UMASS. 


DATE  DUE 

UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AMHERST 


M 


t/} 

O 


Nantucket 


A   H  istory 


By 

R.  A.  Douglas-Lithgow,  m.d.,  ll.d. 

Formerly  Vice-President  and  Foreign  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Society 

of  Literature  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  ;  Life  Fellow  of  the 

Royal  Geological  Society  of  Ireland  ;  Member  of  the 

Anthropological  Society  of  Washington,  etc. 

Author  of  "Dictionary  of  American-Indian  Place  and  Proper  Names 
of  New  England,"  "Heredity:  A  Study,"  etc. 


"  It  is  important  that  many  facts,  which  now  exist  but  in  memory,  should 
be  seasonably  secured.  Time  flies,  and  without  some  attempt  to  preserve 
these  historical  data,  many  of  them  must  be  obliterated  forever." 

Samuel  H.  Jenks. 


With  Illustrations  and  a  Map 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

New  York  and  London 
G:be    iftnicfierbocfter    press 

1914 


Copyright,  191 4 

BY 

R.  A.  DOUGLAS-LITHGOW 


Ube  ■ftnichetbocfcer  iprees,  mew  Hotft 


Co 

MY  WIFE 

my  appreciative  companion 

in  many  historic  rambles 

this  volume  is  affectionately 

Dedicated 


FOREWORD 

As  no  systematic  historical  record  of  Nantucket 
has  appeared  since  1835,  when  Obed  Macy's  History 
was  published,  and  as  for  some  time  past  a  general 
desire  has  been  expressed  that  a  new  history,  of  a 
popular  character,  be  issued,  the  writer,  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  several  prominent  islanders,  at  length  consented 
to  compile  such  a  work.  The  present  volume,  which 
is  the  result  of  such  an  endeavor,  has  been  written  under 
difficulties,  not  the  least  of  which  has  been  the  author's 
residence  on  the  mainland.  In  view  of  this  circum- 
stance it  could  not  have  been  produced  at  all  without 
the  collaboration  of  numerous  friends  and  much  corre- 
spondence. 

While  every  competent  authority  has  been  con- 
sulted, a  special  effort  has  been  made  to  compress  the 
material  at  the  writer's  disposal  into  a  work  of  limited 
compass,  and  at  the  same  time  to  leave  unchronicled 
no  important  matters. 

The  history  of  the  island  in  the  latter  half  of  the 
nineteenth  century  has  not  before  been  systematically 
recorded.  In  presenting  this  period  in  fuller  outline 
and  in  offering  a  fresh  survey  of  a  section  of  the  country 
that  is  deserving  of  the  attention  of  the  historian,  the 
author  trusts  that  he  has  done  something  towards 
supplying  a  want  that  has  been  long  felt,  and  if  such 


vi  Foreword 

should  be  the  case,  he  considers  himself  well  repaid 
for  this  labor  of  love. 

Cordial  and  most  appreciative  thanks  are  due  to  Miss 
Grace  Brown  Gardner  for  the  use  made  of  her  masterly- 
contribution  on  the  Botany  of  the  island;  to  Alexander 
Starbuck  and  to  H.  B.  Turner  of  the  Inquirer  and 
Mirror  for  valuable  collaboration;  to  Hon.  Benjamin 
Sharp,  Ph.D.,  Mrs.  Eva  C.  G.  Folger,  Arthur  H. 
Gardner,  Henry  S.  Wyer,  and  William  F.  Macy,  for 
their  assistance  and  uniform  courtesy,  in  addition  to 
the  granting  by  them  of  copyright  privileges. 

Among  many  others  to  whom  a  debt  of  gratitude  is 
owing  for  esteemed  assistance,  the  writer  must  mention 
the  names  of  Mrs.  Ackley,  Mrs.  Hinchman  of  Philadel- 
phia, Irving  Elting,  Mrs.  Albertson;  Miss  Caroline 
Parker,  the  courteous  Librarian  of  the  Athenaeum; 
J.  H.  Robinson  of  Washington;  Sumner  J.  Kimball, 
General  Superintendent  of  the  U.  S.  Life-saving  Ser- 
vice at  Washington;  Mrs.  Anna  Starbuck  Jenks,  the 
late  Mrs.  Judith  G.  Fish,  Miss  Anna  Gardner  Fish, 
Mrs.  F.  S.  Raymond;  J.  Arthur  Burton,  Principal 
of  Nantucket  High  School;  James  Walter  Folger, 
John  C.  Gardner,  Horace  Coleman,  and  Miss  Adah 
Porte. 

If  the  writer's  labors  tend  in  any  degree  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  the  island  or  the  happiness  of  the 
islanders,  he  will  esteem  such  a  result  some  slight  return 
for  the  golden  hours  afforded  him  during  his  several 
sojourns  in  the  region  described. 

R.  A.  D.-L. 

Boston,  Mass. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 
CHAPTER 

I    Geology    and     Physiography     of    the 

Island         ......  i 

II    Legends,     Discovery,     and    Amerind 

Place-Names    .         .         .         •         •  17 

III  The  Aborigines 35 

IV  The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settle- 

ment       .         .         ...         .  58 

V    The  Early  Development  of  the  Island  78 

VI    The  Nantucket  Whale  Fishery          .  103 

VII    Quakerism  in  Nantucket    .         .         .  115 

VIII    Nantucket  Records  ....  130 

IX    The  Nineteenth  Century  .         .         .  I54 

X    The  Nineteenth  Century— Cow/iwMe^  .  179 

XI    Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  205 

XII    Eminent  Nantucketers      .         .         .  222 

XIII  The  Nantucket  Flora         ...  245 

XIV  Villages,  Districts,  etc.     .         .         .  269 
XV     "  Quaint  Nantucketers  "    .        .         .  284 


VUl 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

XVI  Life -Saving  Service  and  Wrecks 

XVII  The  Island  Steamers   . 

XVIII  The  Newspapers  of  Nantucket 

XIX  In  the  Dredge-Net 

XX  Chronological  Data,  1602-1912 
Index  ..... 


304 
320 

329 

340 
365 
381 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


The  Oldest  House 

Frontispiece 

Dorcas  Honorable     . 

.       52 

Abram  Quary      .         .         .         . 

.         .         .       56 

The  Old  Mill    .         .         .         . 

.       84 

An  Old  Friend  .         .         .         . 

.     116 

Main  Street       .         .         .         . 

.     206 

Billy  Clark,  Town  Crier 

.     300 

The  Historical  Society 

.     360 

Map  of  Nantucket    . 

At  End 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

History  of  Nantucket,  Obed  Macy,  1835. 

"     "        "  "      2  ed.,  1882. 

The  Island  of  Nantucket,  Edward  K.  Godfrey,  1882. 
Early  Settlers  of  Nantucket,  Mrs.  Lydia  S.  Hinchman,  1896. 
Handbook  of  Nantucket,  Isaac  H.  Folger,  1874. 
Topographical  Description  of  Nantucket,  Walter  Folger, 

Jr.,  1791. 
Nooks  and  Corners  of  Massachusetts,  S.  G.  Drake,  1875. 
Nantucket  Scraps,  Jane  G.  Austin,  1883. 
Miriam  Coffin,  James  C.  Hart,  Reprint,  1872. 
Trustum  and  his  Grandchildren,  Harriet  Worron,  1881. 
Papers  Relating  to  Nantucket,  F.  B.  Hough,  Albany,  1856. 
Wrecks  around  Nantucket,  Arthur  H.  Gardner,  1877. 
Life  of  Tristram  Coffin,  Allen  Coffin,  LL.B.,  1881. 
Genealogy  of  Macy  Family,  Sylvanus  J.  Macy,  1868. 
Sconset  Cottage  Life,  A.  Judd  Northrup,  1901. 
MSS.  OF  Geo.  W.  Howland  Folger. 
Churches  and  Pastors  of  Nantucket,  Myron  S.  Dudley, 

1902. 
Timothy  White  Papers,  M.  S.  Dudley,  1878.     (Nantucket 

Historical  Association.) 
MSS.  OF  F.  C.  Folger. 
Report  of  Geological  Survey,  Professor  Shaler,  Washington, 

1889. 
Portfolio,  1 811. 
Letters  of  an  American  Farmer,  Hector  H.  John  Creve- 

CGEUR,  1778. 


xii  Bibliography 

The  Glacier's  Gift,  Eva  C.  G.  Folger,  191  i. 

Quaint  Nantucket,  W.  Root  Bliss,  1907 

Nantucket  Steamers,  H.  B.  Turner,  1910. 

Guide  to  Nantucket,  J.  H.  Robinson,  2d  ed. 

Lands  and  Landowners  of  Nantucket,  H.  Barnard  Worth, 

1 901. 
File  of  Nantucket  Gazette,  1816. 

Files  of  Nantucket  I?iquirer  and  Mirror,  covering  sixty  years. 
Annual  Reports  of  Life-Saving  Service. 
Sea-Girt  Nantucket,  H.  S.  Wyer. 
The  Oldest  House,  1905. 

Nantucket  Town  a?id  County  Records,  170  vols. 
Scrap-hooks  OF  F.  C.  Sanford,  Athenceum. 
Map  OF  Dr.  Ewer. 

History  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  Dr.  C.  E,  Banks,  2  vols. 
Indian  Converts,  Experience  Mayhew 
Nantucket  :  Picturesque  and  Historic,  H.  S.  Wyer,  1891. 
American  Merchant  Marine,  John  A.  Spear,  1910. 
Talks  about  Nantucket,  Christopher  Coffin  Hussey. 

Etc.,  etc. 


NANTUCKET 

Oh,  lovely  Isle,  where  Peace  and  Beauty  reign 
Amid  thy  moorlands  wild,  and  fragrant  flowers; 
Where  with  Arcadian  joys  fond  Nature  dowers 
A  thousand  scenes  within  thy  fair  domain. 
Here,  care-forgetting,  have  I  oft-times  lain, 
Dreaming,  within  the  shade  of  thy  sweet  bowers, 
Winging  the  flight  of  summer's  golden  hours. 
Gazing  the  while  upon  thy  wondrous  main — 
God's  glorious  ocean,  in  its  matchless  might. 
Exulting  in  its  awful  majesty. 
How  sweet  its  diapasoned  song  by  night! 
How  it  still  surges  through  my  memory ! 
Oh,  Isle  of  joy,  serene  and  exquisite. 
May  Heaven's  choicest  gifts  abide  with  thee ! 

R.  A.  D.-L. 

God  bless  the  sea-beat  island! 

And  grant  for  evermore, 
That  charity  and  freedom  dwell. 

As  now,  upon  her  shore! 

J.  G.  Whittier. 


Nantucket:    A  History 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  GEOLOGY  AND  PHYSIOGRAPHY  OF  NANTUCKET 

In  the  evolution  of  the  earth's  surface  as  a  dwelHng- 
place  for  man,  the  Great  Architect  of  the  Universe 
subjected  the  hthosphere,  or  body  of  the  earth,  to  a 
series  of  transitional  changes  differentiated  from  each 
other  and  marked  by  the  stratified  deposition  of  certain 
rocks,  for  the  most  part  characterized  by  the  fossil 
remains  of  plants  and  animals,  many  of  which  forms 
are  no  longer  in  existence. 

The  study  of  these  changes  constitutes  the  science 
of  Geology. 

The  strata  of  the  earth  were  formerly  divided  into 
Primary,  Secondary,  Tertiary,  and  Quaternary  in  an 
ascending  scale,  the  Primary  being  the  oldest  and 
deepest,  and  the  Quartemary  the  most  recent.  Each 
of  these  divisions  required  incalculable  ages  of  time 
for  their  production.  More  recently  the  formulary 
of  geological  epochs  has  been  altered  according  to  the 


2  Nantucket 

order  of  the  succession  of  the  forms  of  Hfe,  as  follows: 

1.  Palaeozoic,  or  oldest  life. 

2.  Mesozoic,  or  middle  life. 

3.  j  Cenozoic,  or  recent  life. 

4.  (  Pleistocene  or  most  recent  life. 

The  Pleistocene,  or  Glacial  period  (now  usually  con- 
sidered a  subdivision  of  the  Cenozoic),  although,  com- 
paratively, of  shorter  duration  than  those  preceding 
it,  probably  gave  character  to  many  succeeding  ages. 
While  the  Palaeozoic,  Mesozoic,  and  Cenozoic  epochs 
are  usually  distinguished  by  their  respective  faunas  and 
floras,  the  Pleistocene  is  especially  marked  by  its 
climatic  history.  It  is  with  this  period  that  the  an- 
tiquity of  Man  is  intimately  associated. 

As  the  Glacial  period  advanced,  the  temperature 
became  increasingly  colder,  and  mountains  and  fields 
of  ice  covered,  to  a  great  extent,  the  surface  of  the  earth. 

Many  theories  have  been  propounded  to  explain  the 
natural  causation  of  this  tremendous  glacial  submer- 
gence, but  while  none  of  these  is  universally  accepted, 
the  m.ost  plausible  are  the  following:  (i)  that  which 
accounts  for  it  by  changes  in  solar  radiation, — upon 
which  atmospheric  heat  depends, — and  (2)  that  which 
supposes  changes  in  the  geographic  position  of  the 
earth's  axis.  Whatever  theories  may  be  assigned,  how- 
ever, they  are  at  best  but  hypothetical,  and,  as  far  as 
the  present  development  of  science  extends,  no  mere 
theory  can  be  established  with  absolute  certainty. 

The  Pleistocene  period  includes  three  epochs,  or 
classes  of  phenomena,  which  may  be  briefly  described 
as  follows: 

1st.  The  Glacial  period,  when  great  continental 
areas  in  the  higher  latitudes  were  raised  to  much  higher 


Geology  and  Physiography  3 

altitudes  than  at  present  exist,  and  when  the  inten- 
sification of  climatic  cold  prevailed  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  produce  an  immense  development  of  glaciers. 

2d.  What  is  known  as  the  Champlain  period,  when 
the  ice  had  melted,  and  the  great  high  latitude  areas 
were  reduced  to  a  lower  level  than  at  present,  re- 
sulting in  a  vast  co-extensive  deposit  of  river  and  lake 
formations,  and  marine  formations  along  the  sea-coast. 

3d.  Recent  period,  when  the  land  was  again  raised 
almost  to  its  present  level. 

The  Glacial  and  Champlain  periods  were  united  by 
Lyell,  in  his  later  works,  under  the  general  designation 
of  the  Pleistocene  period. 

It  may  be  generally  stated  that  while  the  Cenozoic 
period  tended  to  the  formation  and  differentiation  of 
rock,  and  was  characterized  by  the  inclusion  of  recent 
organic  forms,  the  operations  of  the  Pleistocene  period 
were  applied  to  the  broad  surface  of  the  continent, 
and  particularly  to  its  middle  and  higher  latitudes,  in 
filling  up  and  leveling  interstices,  in  rounding  hills  and 
constituting  valleys;  in  a  word,  in  smoothing  over  and 
consolidating  the  surface  of  the  earth,  to  make  it  meet 
as  a  dwelling-place  for  man. 

According  to  modern  science,  the  more  recent  geo- 
logical periods,  i.  e.,  the  recent  or  post-Glacial,  and  post- 
Pliocene  or  Glacial,  are  estimated  to  cover  a  period  of 
625,000  years,  as  follows:  post-Glacial  or  Recent,  25,000 
years;  Glacial  or  post-Pliocene,  600,000  years.  These 
figures  represent  an  approximate  mean  of  the  estimates 
made  by  the  most  trustworthy  chronologists,  and  can 
be  relied  upon  as  at  least  suggestive  of  the  relative 
lengths  and  orders  of  magnitude  of  the  periods.^ 

'  Professor  W.  H.  Holmes,  American  Anthropologist,  vol.  xii.,  No.  2, 
1910. 


4  Nantucket 

From  his  frigid  fastnesses  in  Labrador  and  New- 
foundland, the  desolating  breath  of  the  Ice-King  smote 
the  North  American  continent,  and  the  glaciers  already 
in  existence,  as  those  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the 
Sierras,  and  Alaska,  rapidly  expanded,  and  descended 
the  mountain-slopes  to  greater  distances.  New  glaciers 
were  formed  in  many  directions,  and  those  of  Alaska 
and  the  western  mountains  of  British  America  coalesced 
and  filled  the  intervening  valleys,  thus  constituting  an 
immense  ice-field,  almost  as  extensive  as  that  of  Green- 
land. In  Northeastern  America  a  still  greater  ice- 
field was  produced,  which  spread  eastward  to  the 
Atlantic,  and  westward  almost  as  far  as  the  Great 
Lakes.  The  entire  surface  of  New  England  to  its 
farthest  southern  boundary — some  sixty  or  seventy 
miles  beyond  the  spot  where  Nantucket  stands  to-day 
— was  submerged  beneath  a  vast,  thick  mantle  of  ice, 
which  covered  also  the  whole  of  New  York  State,  most 
of  New  Jersey,  and  part  of  Pennsylvania,  extending 
even  to  the  Ohio  River,  at  Cincinnati,  and  at  several 
points  to  the  Missouri. 

For  incalculable  ages  the  earth  lay  bound  in  icy 
fetters,  ever  increasing  in  massiveness,  ever  indurating, 
ever  consolidating,  spell-bound  as  in  a  sleep  of  death, 
while  the  Ice-King  exulted  in  the  white  crystalline 
palaces  of  his  frozen  domain. 

After  her  aeonial  swoon,  however.  Nature,  obedient 
to  the  fiat  of  the  Eternal,  slowly  and  quietly  awakened 
from  her  long  rest,  and  stirred  the  earth  in  her  awaken- 
ing. The  gentle  south  wind  hastened  to  do  her  bidding, 
and  as  its  warm  breath  touched  the  cheek  of  the  Frost- 
King,  his  crystal  fastness  shrank  in  terror,  and,  by 
degrees,  his  whole  realm  slowly  but  surely  retreated. 

The  masses  of  rock,  which  were  separated  by  atmos- 


Geology  and  Physiography  5 

pheric  pressure  from  the  mountains  pounding  the 
valleys  along  which  the  glaciers  flowed,  found  a  tem- 
porary resting-place  on  the  surface  of  the  ice,  at  the 
margin  of  the  glacier,  and  were  carried  along  with  it. 
Sometimes  two  glaciers  united,  and  one  large  trail  in 
the  middle  of  the  trunk  glacier  was  thus  formed  by  the 
carried  drift.  Eventually,  when  the  superimposed 
masses  reached  the  end  of  the  glacier,  the  melting  ice 
deposited  them  in  the  form  of  a  huge  mound.  These 
superficial  forms  of  drift  are  known  as  moraines,  and, 
from  their  position  on  the  glacier,  are  generally  recog- 
nized as  constituting  three  varieties,  distinguished  as 
lateral,  median,  and  terminal. 

The  results  of  glacial  action — to  w^hich  are  attributed 
many  startling  changes  on  the  earth's  surface — are 
classified  as  deposits,  erosion,  and  drift.  The  most  char- 
acteristic detrital  deposit  is  known  as  bowlder  clay  or 
till,  a  mixture  of  fine  and  coarse  clay  or  sand  without 
lamination  or  stratification.  The  coarse  material 
imbedded  in  the  finer  matrix  ranges  from  grains 
and  pebbles  to  cobbles  and  bowlders  of  immense 
size,  showing  worn  surfaces  and  parallel  markings,  or 
flattened  facets  produced  by  grinding  or  attrition. 
Such  material  is  mostly  conveyed  from  long  distances. 
In  addition  to  the  bowlder  clay  are  found  also  marls  and 
raised  sea-beaches.  /  Gravels  and  sands  more  or  less 
laminated,  some  of  which  seem  to  have  been  subjected 
to  the  action  of  running  water,  are  also  characteristic. 
Sometimes,  also,  broad  tracts  are  found  covered  by 
laminated  clays,  including  scratched  pebbles  and  bowl- 
ders like  those  in  till,  and  these  deposits  are  ascribed 
to  bodies  of  water  in  which  icebergs  have  floated.^ 

Coincident   with    the    great    expansion    of   glaciers, 

'  G.  K.  Gilbert. 


^ 


6  Nantucket 

local  changes  in  the  relative  altitude  of  land  and  sea 
were  produced,  and  the  connection  of  these  phenomena 
has  been  definitely  determined  in  the  case  of  the  New- 
England  coast. 

Inasmuch  as  the  island  of  Nantucket  came  into 
existence  as  the  result  of  glacial  action,  this  preliminary- 
sketch  may  be  acceptable  as  an  introduction  to  an 
account  of  its  geological  formation. 

The  island  of  Nantucket  lies  near  the  extreme  south- 
eastern point  of  a  great  projection  of  lands  and  shoals 
forming  the  southern  front  of  New  England.  It  is 
composed  of  sands,  gravels,  and  clays,  which  were 
brought  into  their  present  position  during,  or  immedi- 
ately before,  the  last  Glacial  period. 

It  may  be  stated  that  Nantucket  Island  is  but  a 
small  fragment  of  a  vast  sheet  of  this  glacially-trans- 
ported matter. 

The  greater  part  of  Plymouth  Co.,  Mass.,  the  whole  of 
Cape  Cod,  the  larger  portion  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  and 
the  whole  of  Long  Island,  with  all  the  many  islands  and 
islets  at  its  eastern  extremity,  are  the  dissevered  remains  of 
a  great  shelf  formed  of  the  debris  brought  to  its  present 
position  by  the  glacial  ice,  and  by  the  streams  of  water 
which  flowed  beneath  it.^ 

As  the  result  of  glacial  action,  this  vast  shelf  of  land 
extended  southwards  of  Long  and  Block  Islands, 
Martha's  Vineyard,  and  Nantucket ;  it  was  at  this  time 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  but  became  almost  entirely 
submerged  with  the  exception  of  the  lands  still  existing 
as  islands,  ranging  from  Nantucket  on  the  east  to 
Staten  Island  on  the  west.  The  deposit  of  this  sub- 
merged land  was  much  more  recent  in  its  formation 

'  Professor  N.  S.  Shaler. 


Geology  and  Physiography  7 

than  Nantucket,  which,  as  a  terminal  moraine,  had 
accumulated  a  vaster  amount  of  drift  material,  and 
thus,  as  Dr.  Ev/er  says: 

The  whole  region  of  southern  New  England  was  elevated 
at  least  six  hundred  feet  above  its  present  height,  and  this 
uplifting  or  uptilting  of  the  eastern  part  of  our  continent 
pushed  the  Atlantic  back  some  seventy  miles  south  of 
where  it  is  to-day,  entirely  out  of  sight  from  Quanaty. 

When  the  expanse  of  more  recently  formed  land  on 
which  Nantucket  stood  was  submerged,  Nantucket  was 
insulated  by  the  advance  of  the  sea  around  it,  and  the 
other  islands  in  the  same  chain — Martha's  Vineyard, 
Long,  Block,  and  Staten  Islands — were  similarly  left 
standing  in  the  ocean. 

Nantucket  was,  therefore,  a  terminal  moraine, — a 
halting-place  of  the  glacial  movement, — that  is,  it  was 
formed  by  the  advancing  lower  rim  of  the  glacier  which, 
melting,  deposited  its  accumulations  of  drift — sand, 
clay,  and  bowlders — caught  up  in  its  southward  march, 
and  frozen  within  its  substance,  in  great  heaps  where 
they  exist  to-day  as  islands  in  the  ocean.  There  are 
evidences  that,  arrived  at  Nantucket,  the  glacial  ice, 
owing  probably  to  an  increase  of  temperature,  receded 
northwards  for  some  distance,  and  advanced  again. 
This  testimony  is  sustained  by  the  fact  that  a  chain 
of  glacial  islands — more  recent  terminal  moraines — 
stretches  from  the  eastern  coast  of  Cape  Cod,  and  ex- 
tends through  the  Elizabeth  Islands  and  Point  Judith, 
to  Fisher's  and  Plum  Islands. 

In  certain  glaciated  regions,  as  in  Nantucket,  glacial 
deposits  are  found  overlain  by  peat  and  other  growths, 
which  could  not  have  been  formed  under  the  ice,  and 
these,   in  turn,   also  overlaid  by  other  deposits.     In 


8  Nantucket 

the  attempt  to  account  for  these  phenomena,  it  has 
been  suggested,  with  much  probabiHty,  that  mountain 
glaciers  and  lowland  ice-sheets  advanced  and  retreated 
more  than  once.  Some,  indeed,  aver  that  there  must 
have  been  several  glacial  epochs;  others  maintain  that 
there  were  at  least  two,  separated  by  an  inter-glacial 
epoch ;  but  this  is  not  yet  determined. 

With  regard  to  the  general  geological  structure  of 
the  island,  the  lowest  deposit  is  till,  or  bowlder  clay, 
blue  in  color,  and  sparsely  intermingled  •  with  pebbles 
and  sand.  The  clay  is  slightly  laminated,  and  some 
of  the  pebbles  are  scratched,  as  glacial  pebbles  fre- 
quently are.  This  can  be  readily  seen  at  Wannacomet, 
near  the  pumping  station,  at  Squam  Head,  and  in  the 
town.  As  a  rule,  the  upper  surface  of  the  till  is  below 
the  level  of  the  sea,  and  it  assumes  in  general  an  un- 
dulatory  form. 

Above  the  surface  of  this  clay  deposit  is  a  mass  of 
more  or  less  stratified  sand,  easily  recognized  in  its 
formation  and  aspect  as  constituting  kames  and  ter- 
races. These  kames  are  low  hills  varying  in  height 
and  shape;  sometimes  conical  and  sometimes  elongated, 
sometimes  isolated,  more  frequently  crowded  together. 
Between  the  ridges  are  small  narrow  valleys,  often 
extending  downwards  to  swamps  or  ponds. 

Where  these  hills  are  steepest,  bowlders  of  various 
sizes  are  usually  found,  but,  as  the  stones  on  the  island 
have  been  generally  appropriated  for  economic  pur- 
poses, they  are  not  now  seen  as  much  as  formerly. 
These  kames  are  found  for  the  most  part  in  the  central 
and  northern  portions  of  the  island,  and  in  few,  if  any, 
instances  approach  the  shore.  As  a  rule  they  taper 
down  to  a  sandy  plain,  which  descends  gradually  to  the 
Atlantic.     Professor  Shaler  thought  that  these  kames 


Geology  and  Physiography  9 

and  moraines  were  deposited  at  a  considerable  depth  be- 
neath the  sea,  and  that  the  low  spaces  often  found 
between  them  were  formed  by  the  separation  of  icebergs 
at  the  front  of  the  glacier. 

These  all  slope  oceanwards.  Their  lower  extremities 
are  invariably  below  the  sea-level,  and  thus  contain 
more  or  less  ponds  which  are  barred  from  the  ocean  by 
walls  of  sand.  There  are  upwards  of  two  dozen  of 
these  lacustrine  depressions  on  the  island. 

The  internal  structure  of  the  kames  and  terraces 
presents  a  curious  mixture  of  stratified  and  unstratified 
materials, — sand  and  small  pebbles  accumulated  ir- 
regularly in  layers.  The  bowlders  frequently  found 
among  these  pebbly  sands  are  believed  to  have  been 
deposited  on  floating  ice,  and,  if  this  theory  is  correct, 
it  goes  far  to  prove  that  the  kames  and  terraces  were 
accumulated  under  water. 

Professor  Shaler  was  of  the  opinion  that  all  the  glacial 
drift  of  Nantucket,  except  the  bowlders  transplanted 
by  icebergs,  came  from  far  east  of  the  Narraganset 
basin. 

The  fossiliferous  deposits  of  Nantucket  are  compara- 
tively unimportant,  consisting  mainly  of  fresh-water 
peats,  and  a  variety  of  recent  marine  species,  and  need 
not  be  further  noticed  here. 

A  few  words  may  be  devoted  to  the  succession  of 
geological  events  on  Nantucket. 

The  deposition  of  the  unstratified  blue  clay  under- 
lying the  island  must  have  taken  place  during  the 
Glacial  period,  when  the  ice-sheet  covered  this  section. 
It  was  probably  formed  as  ground  moraine  either 
under  the  surface  or  immediately  in  front  of  the  ice- 
sheet. 

After  the  deposition  of  the  clay,  the  ice-sheet  re- 


10  Nantucket 

treated,  and  the  climatic  conditions  permitted  the 
return  of  marine  Hfe  to  the  shore  Hne.  The  level  of 
this  shore  at  one  time  must  have  been  at  least  fifty  feet 
below  the  present  high-tide  mark.  After  the  fossil- 
iferous  beds  were  formed,  the  ice  again  advanced  until 
its  southern  front  came  at  least  to  the  middle  of  the 
island.  During  this  readvance  were  accumulated  the 
existing  heaps  of  stratified  and  amorphous  sand,  gravel, 
and  bowlders,  and  the  southern  sand-plains,  which 
constitute  the  principal  features  of  the  island,  were 
formed  under  the  following  conditions: 

1 .  The  surface  was  below  the  present  level  of  the  sea. 

2.  The  drift  materials  were  partly  shoved  forward  by 
the  glacier  and  partly  deposited  by  the  streams  which 
escaped  from  below  the  ice. 

3.  The  existence  of  considerable  streams  rising  from  the 
ice  front,  and  extending  to  the  south,  is  shown  by  the 
numerous  deep  channels  which  are  excavated  in  the  south- 
ern terrace  or  sand  plains. 

4.  The  sand  plains  on  the  southern  part  of  the  island, 
which  exist  nowhere  else  on  its  surface,  were  deposited 
during  the  time  when  the  detrital  hills  of  the  northern 
section  were  being  accumulated. 

5.  After  the  foregoing  stages  of  the  re-advancing  ice, 
the  glacier  appears  to  have  again  retreated  northward  for 
the  last  time.  During,  or  after,  this  recession  the  surface 
must  have  been  suddenly  elevated  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.^ 

It  is  therefore  inferred  that  the  series  of  delicately 
moulded  kames  were  formed  below  the  surface  of  the 
sea  and  uplifted  above  its  surface  after  the  last  retreat 
of  the  ice. 

So  far  as  can  be  determined,  the  front  of  the  ice, 

'  Professor  N.  S.  Shaler. 


Geology  and  Physiography  ii 

during  the  formation  of  the  Nantucket  moraine,  lay- 
in  a  nearly  east  and  west  direction. 

A  few  post-Glacial  changes  in  the  island  may  be 
briefly  referred  to,  under  three  heads,  viz. :  changes  of 
level;  changes  due  to  the  alteration  of  the  surface; 
and  changes  due  to  the  wearing  of  the  sea. 

The  principal  change  of  level  was  that  which  brought 
the  sand  and  gravel  hills,  and  the  fringe  of  lower  land 
on  the  south,  above  the  sea-level.  Allowing  that  the 
sandhills  were  originally  formed  on  the  sea  floor,  at  the 
front  of  the  ice,  their  summits  must  have  been  sub- 
merged to  a  depth  of  at  least  200  feet  below  the  sea- 
level.  As  the  highest  of  these  sandhills  now  lies  about 
100  feet  above  the  sea-level,  the  post-Glacial  uplift 
must  have  been  over  300  feet,  and  probably  much  more. 

There  must  have  been  a  subsequent  submergence 
which  brought  the  fresh-water  peat  deposits  below  the 
sea-level, — probably  a  submergence  of  ten  feet. 

That  part  of 

the  northern  shore  which  lies  inside  Coatue  beach  has  a 
very  indented  shore  line,  while  the  coast  to  the  west  of  the 
harbor  has  an  outline  such  as  all  shores  have  which  have 
been  subjected  to  the  long-continued  action  of  the  waves. 
This  shore,  after  the  post-Glacial  elevation,  must  have  been 
much  farther  to  the  northward  than  it  is  at  present;  then 
came  the  subsidence  indicated  by  the  submerged  peats, 
which  brought  the  land  to  about  its  present  level.  The 
beach  of  Coatue  was  rapidly  formed  in  front  of  a  portion 
of  the  north  shore,  and  has  since  served  as  a  protecting 
barrier  against  the  assaults  of  the  vigorous  waves  which 
form  in  Nantucket  Sound. 

It  may  be  assumed  that,  when  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket was  deposited  in  the  ocean,  the  salient  points 


12  Nantucket 

which  now  surround  it  were  not  in  existence,  and  that 
Nantucket  itself,  Tuckemuck,  and  Coskata  all  appeared 
as  separate  islands.  The  great  Glacial  masses  were 
moving  southwards,  and  from  their  southern  rim  the 
waters  were  rushing  in  the  same  direction  with  their 
freight  of  drift.  Doubtless  the  northern  range  of  hills 
on  Nantucket  were  then  deposited,  and,  gaining  im- 
petus in  their  southern  flow,  the  drift-bearing  waters 
spread  their  sand  and  gravel  over  the  southern  plains, 
excavating  valleys  in  their  impetuous  course,  and 
scooping  out  basins  for  pools  and  lakes,  as  they  speeded 
on  to  sink  once  more  within  the  breast  of  mother-ocean. 
Such,  in  briefest,  if  not  in  blurred  outline,  is  a  sketch 
of  the  geology  of  Nantucket, — the  most  interesting 
specimen  of  a  terminal  moraine  in  existence.  ^ 

PHYSIOGRAPHY 

Nantucket  Island  is  the  most  southern  point  of 
Massachusetts.  Its  geographical  position  has  been 
indicated  elsewhere;  a  brief  reference  to  its  topography 
may  be  made  here. 

The  shape  of  the  island  is  somewhat  difficult  to  define, 
but  has  been  described  as  "triangular"  and  "crescen- 
tic."  The  writer  believes  that  it  resembles,  more 
than  anything  else,  a  rough  diagrammatic  outline  of 
the  human  stomach. 

The  general  surface  of  the  island  may  be  said  to  be 
level,  but  much  of  it  is  undulating,  owing  to  a  multi- 
plicity of  Glacial  drtmilins.  These  run  in  the  path  of 
the  ice  movement,  and,  especially  along  the  northern 

'  In  the  compilation  of  this  chapter  the  writer  must  express  his 
obligations  to  a  masterly  scientific  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Nantucket, 
by  the  late  Professor  N.  S.  Shaler. 


Geology  and  Physiography  13 

side  of  its  main  body,  where  the  melting  rim  of  the 
glacier  stood,  are  a  number  of  hills,  in  several  instances 
approaching  one  hundred  feet  in  height.  Between  these 
hills  and  the  southern  shore  a  level  expanse  extends 
gently  downwards  to  the  ocean,  which  expanse  probably 
resulted  from  the  glacial  waters  carrying  down  south- 
wards floods  of  drift  laden  with  gravel,  sand,  bowlders, 
and  clay,  from  the  top  and  southern  sides  of  the  moraine, 
and  their  deposition  upon  the  southern  plains.  The 
hills  are  known  as  Saul's,  Trot's,  Sankaty,  Popsquat- 
chet,  Shawkemo,  etc.,  and  the  expanse  is  apportioned 
among  districts  known  as  Southeast  Quarter,  South 
Pasture,  Smooth  Hummocks,  the  Plains,  Great  Neck, 
Nanahuma  Neck,  etc. 

The  southern  plains  are,  moreover,  diversified  by  a 
number  of  parallel  valleys,  all  tending  southward,  viz.: 
Chappapemeset,  Coffin's,  Starbuck's,  Madequecham, 
Barnard's,  Wyer's,  and  other  valleys,  in  several  in- 
stances terminating  in  ponds,  as  Weeweder,  Miacomet, 
Hummock,  and  Long  Ponds.  Indeed,  quite  a  chain 
of  ponds  ^  formerly  existed  round  the  southern  shore- 
line, but  many  of  them  have  been,  and  are  being,  filled 
up  by  sand  deposits  swept  down  from  the  higher  ground 
above,  and  by  beach-sand  blown  or  washed  over  from 
the  ocean. 

The  outline  of  the  coast,  especially  on  its  northern 
and  western  aspects,  is  rendered  unsymmetrical  by  the 
several  sandy  points  and  prolongations  which  reach 
out  from  it,  but  the  southern  and  eastern  shores  are 
comparatively  regular. 

The  outer  harbor  is  formed  by  an  extensive  bay  on 
the  north,  and  is  enclosed  by  two  sandy  points,  one 
at  the  northeast — Great  Point;    and  one  at  the  north- 

•  Vide  Chapter  XX. 


14  Nantucket 

west  part  of  the  island — Smith's  Point, — both  tending 
towards  the  northwest. 

The  inner  harbor  is  entered  between  Brant  Point 
and  a  long  sandy  promontory  known  as  Coatue,  which 
formations  are  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  apart, 
and  almost  entirely  land-lock  the  harbor.  Near 
Wauwinet,  at  the  head  of  the  harbor,  there  was  a 
narrow  strip  of  sand  which  divided  the  ocean  from  the 
harbor  and  which  was  known  as  the  "Haulover," 
because  the  fishermen  found  access  to  and  egress  from 
the  harbor  by  hauling  their  boats  across  at  this  point. 
During  a  severe  storm  on  December  17,  1896,  the 
angry  waves  tore  away  the  sandy  partition,  and,  as 
time  went  on,  the  opening  was  gradually  extended 
until  it  eventually  reached  Coskata,  and  converted  the 
northern  extremity  of  Coatue  peninsula  into  an  island. 
Subsequently  the  opening  gradually  closed  up,  and 
the  "Haulover"  now  remains  in  its  original  condition. 

Within  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  inner  harbor  are 
the  town  of  Nantucket  and  its  wharves.  A  dangerous 
shoal  crosses  the  outer  harbor  about  two  miles  north 
of  the  island,  extending  from  Muskeget  Island  to  Cos- 
kata. Another  great  shoal  extends  round  the  southern 
shore,  and  there  are  several  shoals  on  the  east  side  of 
the  island.  These  have  proved  terribly  disastrous  to 
navigation,  for  hundreds  of  vessels  have  perished  round 
the  island,  in  sight  of  home. 

The  names  of  the  many  ponds  of  the  Island  will  be 
found  elsewhere.  ^ 

The  moors  are  thickly  covered  with  scrub-oak,  bay, 
wild  straw-  and  black-berries,  and  an  infinitude  of 
shrubs,  ferns,  mosses,  and  lichens,  and  present  a  very 
paradise  of  flowers  from  May  to  October.     For  those 

•  Vide  Chapter  XX. 


Geology  and  Physiography  15 

who  love  solitude  amid  the  charms  of  nature,  a  stroll 
over  the  fragrant  moorlands  forms,  perhaps,  the  su- 
preme attraction  on  the  island. 

If  ever  the  island  was  wooded,  it  must  have  been 
before  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century.  That  it 
was  wooded  in  places,  is  very  probable;  but  the  settlers 
evidently  had  little  relish  for  forestry,  and  soon  ex- 
hausted the  supply.  Nevertheless,  the  trees  planted 
in  the  town,  after  the  great  fire  of  1846, — especially 
those  on  Main,  Centre,  Federal,  and  Broad  Streets, — 
have  grown  splendidly,  as  well  as  they  do  in  any  district 
in  New  England. 

The  roads  on  the  island  are  almost  innumerable, 
and  radiate  in  many  directions  from  the  town.  There 
is  a  fine  macadamized  State  road  running  from  Nan- 
tucket to  Siasconset.  These  unconventional  roads 
are  a  delight  to  all  to  whom  adventure  appeals,  and 
they  lead  to  such  varied  scenes,  and  enticing  solitudes 
of  nature  that  every  artistic  soul  must  indeed  be 
thrilled  with  joy. 

NANTUCKET  TOWN 

From  whatever  aspect  the  town  of  Nantucket  is 
regarded  it  is  certainly  imique.  Yet  if  one  attempts  to 
analyze  its  uniqueness,  the  experiment  is  usually  dis- 
appointing, because  the  elements  are  so  multiform  and 
elusive.  We  may  exhaust  its  historical  associations, 
the  beauty  and  fragrance  of  its  moors,  the  absolute 
purity  of  its  ocean-air,  the  proverbial  geniality  and 
quaintness  of  its  inhabitants,  the  natural  wildness  of 
its  gardens,  the  brightness  of  its  sunshine,  the  pictur- 
esqueness  of  its  buildings,  the  varied  joys  of  its  social 
life,  the  magnificence  of  its  ocean  views,  the  sublimity 


i6  Nantucket 

of  its  sunsets,  the  peacefulness  of  its  solitudes,  but  all 
in  vain.  There  is  a  spell  about  the  place;  and  he  who 
has  once  succumbed  to  its  gentle  mesmeric  influences 
ever  leaves  them  with  regret,  ever  longs  for  their 
renewal,  and  never  forgets  them. 


CHAPTER  II 

LEGENDS,   DISCOVERY,   AND  AMERIND   PLACE-NAMES 

Among  the  Indian  tribes  of  this  vast  American  con- 
tinent much  legendary  lore  prevailed,  and  there  were 
few  problems  connected  with  human  existence  which 
had  not  been  solved  for  them  by  the  myths,  legends, 
and  traditions  which  had  been  passed  down  from  gener- 
ation to  generation. 

Unfortunately  very  few  legends  of  the  Nantucket 
Indians  have  been  preserved,  and,  however  difficult 
it  is  to  account  for  this  paucity  of  legendary  lore,  the 
fact  remains. 

The  following  legends  of  the  Nantucket  Indians  are 
all  that  the  writer  has,  after  much  searching,  been 
enabled  to  find.  The  first,  concerning  the  creation  of 
Nantucket  as  an  island,  is  very  interesting: 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  on  the  Atlantic  coast  a 
giant  who  used  Cape  Cod  for  his  bed.  One  night,  being 
restless,  he  tossed  from  side  to  side  till  his  moccasins  were 
filled  with  sand.  This  so  enraged  him  that,  on  rising  in  the 
morning,  he  flung  the  offending  moccasins  from  his  feet, 
one  alighting  to  form  Martha's  Vineyard,  while  the  other 
became  the  since  famous  island  of  Nantucket.  ^ 

'  The  Glacier's  Gift,  Eva  C.  G.  Folger. 
2  17 


i8  Nantucket 

With  regard  to  the  primeval  discovery  of  the  island 
of  Nantucket  by  the  Indians  the  following  legend  is 
interesting  (as  all  legends  are),  and  it  was  related  by 
the  aborigines  to  the  early  English  settlers,  soon  after 
their  arrival: 

In  former  times,  a  good  many  moons  ago,  a  bird,  ex- 
traordinary for  its  size,  used  often  to  visit  the  south  shore 
of  Cape  Cod,  and  carry  from  thence  in  its  talons  a  vast 
number  of  small  children.  Maushope,  who  was  an  Indian 
giant,  as  fame  reports,  resided  in  these  parts.  Enraged 
at  the  havoc  among  the  children,  he,  on  a  certain  time, 
waded  into  the  sea  in  pursuit  of  the  bird,  till  he  had  crossed 
the  Sound,  and  reached  Nantucket.  Before  Maushope 
forded  the  Sound,  the  island  was  unknown  to  the  red  men. 
Maushope  found  the  bones  of  the  children  in  a  heap  under  a 
large  tree.  He,  then,  wishing  to  smoke  his  pipe,  ransacked 
the  island  for  tobacco;  but  finding  none,  he  filled  his  pipe 
with  poke — a  weed  which  the  Indians  sometimes  used  as  a 
substitute. 

Ever  since  this  memorable  event,  fogs  have  been  frequent 
on  the  Cape.  In  allusion  to  this  tradition,  when  the  abo- 
rigines observed  a  fog  rising,  they  would  say,  "There  comes 
old  Maushope's  smoke.  "^ 

(Here  the  legend  unfortunately  ends.) 

In  approaching  the  consideration  of  the  Nantucket 
Indians,  the  following  beautiful  legend^  cannot  be 
passed  over  in  silence,  as  it  reveals  the  fact  that  self- 
sacrifice  and  the  tender  passion  are  not  limited  in  their 
influence  to  any  race  or  color,  but  are  the  hallowed 

'  Col.  Mass.  Hist.  Soc,  vol.  v.,  First  Series,  p.  57. 

'  A  worthy  poetic  setting  of  this  legend  was  published  by  The  Inquirer 
and  Mirror  nearly  forty  years  ago,  from  the  pen  of  Miss  Charlotte  P. 
Baxter.  It  was  republished  in  the  Inquirer  of  January  21,  191 1,  and 
the  poetic  quotations  in  this  chapter  have  been  taken  from  it. 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names      19 

heritage  of  mankind.  Such  a  record  deserves  a  fore- 
most place  in  any  associated  local  history.  The  in- 
cident referred  to  is  supposed  to  have  occurred  about 
1630,  or,  as  Dr.  Ewer  suggested,  about  thirty  years 
before  the  arrival  of  the  white  men. 

Wauwinet  was  the  sage  and  beloved  Sachem  of  the 
northeastern  section  of  the  island.  He  had  one 
daughter,  Wonoma, — 

The  loveliest  and  the  gentlest, 

and  they  were  devoted  to  each  other. 

Well  she  knew  the  art  of  healing; 

Skilled  was  she  in  all  the  uses 

Of  the  herbs  that  grew  around  them. 

And  whenever  from  the  waters 

Spoke  the  voice  of  the  Great  Spirit, 

She  could  tell  unto  her  people 

What  the  words  were,  and  the  meaning. 

Fever  had  broken  out  among  the  natives  of  the 
southwestern  section  of  the  island,  which  was  under  the 
dominance  of  the  chief,  Autopscot,  and  he  feared  that 
his  people  would  be  swept  away  by  the  rapid  spread 
of  the  pestilence.  In  his  extremity  he  thought  of  the 
fair  and  graceful  Wonoma,  Wauwinet's  daughter,  and 
knowing  she  possessed  the  knowledge  of  a  great  medi- 
cine-man, he  despatched  one  of  his  maidens,  named 
Wosoka,  to  speed  to  Wonoma, 

Praying  her  to  come  and  save  them. 
From  the  cruel,  blasting  Fever. 

Wonoma,  always  delighting  to  do  good,  accompanied 
the  little  maid  back  to  her  stricken  people,  and,  in  a 
little  time,  the  plague  was  stayed,  and  she  healed  and 


20  Nantucket 

comforted  those  who  would  have  died  but  for  her  skill- 
ful and  kindly  help.  By  her  skill,  her  winsomeness, 
and  her  sympathy  she  won  the  hearts  of  all  the  natives, 
and,  when  the  time  of  her  departure  came,  they  begged 
her  to  remain  with  them,  so  that  they  might  show  their 
gratitude, 

For  the  boon  of  Life  She  gave  them. 

Then  the  brave  Autopscot  pleaded,  not  only  for  his 
people,  but  for  himself,  that  she  should  not  go  from 
them,  and  he  ended  by  eloquently  and  fervently  de- 
claring his  love  for  her;  and  Wonoma,  deeply  touched, 
smilingly  replied: 

That  because  she  loved  his  people 
But  more  truly  loved  their  leader, 
She  would  come  again  among  them, — 
Come  again  to  go  not  from  them. 

Later,  the  friendly  and  fraternal  feeling  which  had 
long  existed  between  the  tribes  of  Wauwinet  and  Autop- 
scot gradually  changed  to  feelings  of  anger  and  hatred 
in  consequence  of  some  petty  differences  as  to  the 
dividing  line  between  their  respective  territories.  A 
feud  was  generated  and  bloodshed  was  threatened 
between  the  contending  parties.  Wauwinet  and  his 
braves,  in  solemn  council,  had  agreed  upon  a  subtle 
plan  for  overcoming  their  enemies;  but  Wonoma  had 
overheard  the  deliberations  of  the  war-council,  and 
resolved  to  save  her  lover  at  all  hazards.  When  her 
people  were  asleep  she  stole  out  of  her  wigwam,  and, 
securing  a  canoe,  rowed  through  the  darkness,  with  a 
prayer  in  her  heart  to  the  Father  of  all  mercies  that 
she  might  be  enabled  to  save  him  who  was  now  dearer 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     21 

to  her  than  even  her  own  people.  Over  sea  and  land 
she  hurried  on,  her  feet  bleeding  and  weary,  and  when 
she  arrived  at  her  destination  she  was  completely  ex- 
hausted. When  she  had  found  him  whom  her  heart 
desired,  she  told  him  what  she  had  heard,  and  leaving 
her  in  charge  of  some  of  the  maidens  to  rest,  Autopscot 
called  his  people  together,  and  bade  them  to  be  prepared 
to  receive  the  enemy  on  the  morrow. 

When,  next  day,  Wauwinet  and  his  braves  proceeded 
to  attack  the  enemy  unawares,  and  found  them  armed 
and  ready  to  receive  them,  instead  of  imprepared  as 
he  had  expected,  he  simply  turned  around,  and,  with 
his  warriors,  retraced  his  footsteps  to  his  own  possessions. 

On  the  following  evening,  as  Wauwinet  stood  in 
deep  thought  at  the  door  of  his  wigwam,  an  oncoming 
footstep  aroused  him,  and,  bending  courteously,  Autop- 
scot stood  before  him,  and  thus  addressed  the  father 
of  his  love : 

Oh,  my  father!     Oh,  most  noble! 
Dark  have  been  the  days  about  us, 
And  still  darker  have  the  nights  been ; — 
In  our  hearts  the  darkest  hatred. 
Hear  me  speak,  Oh  mighty  father ! 
For  the  love  I  bear  Wonoma, — 
For  the  sake  of  both  our  people, 
May  there  not  be  peace  between  us? 

Wauwinet 's  brow  was  clouded  with  anger  as  Autop- 
scot spoke,  but  graduall}'-  the  frown  relaxed,  and  when 
the  brave  young  chief  had  finished,  the  elder  was  silent 
for  a  time,  and  thus  replied  in  tones  of  friendly  feeling: 

.     .     .     Oh,  my  son,  Autopscot, 
Great  has  been  the  lesson  taught  me, 


22  Nantucket 

That  I,  myself,  am  not  almighty, — 

That  there  is  a  power  beyond  me, 

Unto  which  I  have  to  yield  me. 

Great  the  love  I  bear  Wonoma, 

And  if  she  so  truly  loves  you, 

There  should  only  be  between  us 

Words  and  thoughts  that  are  most  friendly. 

When  Wauwinet  had  thus  spoken,  the  two  chiefs 
grasped  each  other  by  the  hand  in  mutual  affection, 
and,  before  they  parted,  they  amicably  arranged  be- 
tween them  the  land  which  had  caused  their  dispute, 
and  while  pledging  themselves  to  enduring  peace, 
Wauwinet  gladly  sanctioned  the  union  of  Wonoma  and 
Autopscot.  From  that  day  to  this  peace  has  reigned 
over  and  blest  the  island  of  Nantucket. 

In  his  interesting  Talks  about  Old  Nantucket,  the  late 
Christopher  Coffin  Hussey  reproduces  a  legend  of  curious 
interest,  connected  with  Abram  Quary,  the  well-known 
Indian  half-breed. 

When  the  great  sickness  of  1764,  elsewhere  alluded  to, 
carried  off  the  Indians,  from  some  cause,  perhaps  from  the 
action  of  some  deep-lying  law  of  the  connection  between 
all  animal  life,  the  blue-fish,  which  had  been  plenty,  sud- 
denly disappeared  from  the  waters  around  the  island. 
The  Indian  said,  "When  the  houses  of  the  red-men  are 
laid  low,  the  blue-fish  will  return."  Whether  from  mere 
coincidence  or  nature's  law  it  was  so.  Not  far  from  the 
time  of  Abram's  death,  the  blue-fish  reappeared. 

The  writer  goes  on  to  say: 

I  distinctly  remember  hearing  two  men  say  that  there 
had  been  taken  at  Madeket  that  afternoon,  two  blue-fish, 
the  first  that,  with  possibly  an  occasional  exception,  had 
been  taken  for  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  century. 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     23 

Since,  with  varying  seasons,  they  have  always  been  more 
or  less  plenty. 

On  one  occasion,  Michabo,  the  Great  White  One, 
the  Spirit  of  Light  of  the  Dawn  or  the  East,  had 

an  offering  made  to  him,  (by  his  subjects  on  Martha's  Vine- 
yard), and,  filling  his  great  hopuonk  or  pipe,  he  sat  down 
in  front  of  his  "den, "  and  enjoyed  this  huge  smoke.  After 
taking  his  fill  of  this  diversion,  he  turned  over  the  bowl, 
and  knocked  the  ashes  from  it,  and  as  they  were  carried 
by  the  wind  to  the  eastward,  they  fell  in  a  heap  and  formed 
the  island  of  Nantucket  which  was  known  as  the  "Devil's 
Ash  Heap.'" 

Finally 

the  natives  of  the  Elizabeth  islands  say  that  the  Devell 
was  making  a  stone  bridge  over  from  the  main  to  Nanamesit 
Island,  and  while  he  was  rowling  the  stones  and  placing 
them  under  water,  a  crab  catched  him  by  the  fingers,  with 
which  he  snatched  up  his  hand  and  flung  it  towards  Nan- 
tucket, and  the  crabs  breed  there  ever  since.  ^ 

THE  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ISLAND 

The  date  of  the  original  discovery  of  the  island  of 
Nantucket  by  white  men  is  still  a  moot  point,  although 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  many  of  the  adventurous 
navigators  of  early  times  sailed  past  its  ocean-laved 
shores,  without  deigning  however,  to  pay  it  a  visit,  or 
preserving  a  descriptive  record  for  the  benefit  of  pos- 
terity.     What  does  history  say  about   these   ancient 

'  Mrs.  M.  A.  Cleggett  Vanderhoop,  in  New  Bedford  Standard,  1904. 

*  Memoranda  of  Naushon,  by  Wait  Winthrop,  1702.  For  the  last 
two  legends  the  writer  is  indebted  to  Dr.  C.  E.  Bank's  admirable 
History  of  Martha's  Vineyard. 


24  Nantucket 

mariners?  Erik  the  Red,  a  Norwegian,  born  a.d.  950, 
and  the  discoverer  of  Greenland,  was  probably  the 
first  white  man  who  visited  the  American  continent. 

Bjarne  Herjulfson,  voyaging  to  Greenland,  in  986, 
had  sailed  too  far  south,  and,  in  retracing  his  route, 
sighted  land  at  three  points.  He  did  not,  however, 
attempt  to  go  ashore.  It  has  been  confidently  deter- 
mined that  the  land  he  saw  on  each  occasion  was  the 
American  coast,  and  that  the  first  land  he  observed  was 
some  part  of  New  England;  the  second,  Nova  Scotia; 
and  the  third,  Newfoundland. 

Leif  Erikson,  son  of  Erik,  left  Norway  A.D.  1000, 
sailing  to  Greenland.  Having  heard  of  Bjarne's 
experiences,  he  resolved  to  investigate  the  lands  previ- 
ously seen  by  him.  He  succeeded  in  discovering  New- 
foundland, thence  proceeded  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  finally 
reached  New  England,  where  he  remained  during  the 
winter  of  looo-i  He  sailed  for  Greenland  early  in 
the  latter  year. 

In  what  part  of  New  England  did  he  spend  the 
winter?  On  what  portion  of  New  England  did  he 
bestow  the  name  "Vinland"?  If  an  answer  had  been 
possible  to  these  two  questions,  much  argument  and 
speculation  might  have  been  spared;  but  so  far  no 
correct  answer  is  possible,  as  there  are  not  sufficient 
facts  to  warrant  a  determination  of  either  question. 
It  has  been  surmised  and  alleged  that  the  island  of 
Nantucket  was  the  "Vinland"  of  Leif,  and,  perhaps, 
as  much  has  been  said  about  the  "basin  of  the  Charles 
River":  but  who  knows? 

Leif  is  said,  and  with  much  probability,  not  only  to 
have  visited  Nantucket,  but  to  have  bestowed  the 
name  of  Nauticon  upon  it,  and,  if  this  is  so,  it  seems 
corroborative  that  the  name  Nautican  is  that  applied 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     25 

to  the  island  by  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  {circa  1630), 
and  Na/ztican  in  Hough's  book,  under  date  1641.  In 
all  likelihood  the  name  Nauticon  was  merely  a  Norse 
approximation  to  the  original  Indian  name  of  the 
island,  viz.:  Natocket,  meaning  "The  far  away  land," 
or  "The  far  away  land  at  sea"  (literally,  "The  place 
of  the  land  that  is  far  off").^ 

A  circumstantial  account  of  Leif  Erikson's  voyaging 
and  of  the  Norse  discovery  of  America  is  given  in  the 
Norse  Saga, — the  Flate-yar-bok,  and  the  Hauks-bok. 
These  accounts  were  subsequently  confirmed  by  Adam  of 
Bremen,  in  the  History  of  Bremen  Church,  etc.,  and  in  the 
MSS.  of  numerous  historians  from  the  eleventh  to  the  fif- 
teenth century ;  but  the  conjecture  is  not  adequately  sub- 
stantiated by  facts  to  warrant  a  conclusion,  and  it  seems 
impossible  in  this  age  to  divest  the  ancient  story  of  the 
cloud  of  myth  and  mystery  which  surrounds  it. 

Numerous  accounts  are  subsequently  given  of  Nor- 
wegian and  Icelandic  navigators  who  reached  the 
shores  of  America  from  time  to  time,  but  they  have 
left  no  records  of  importance,  and  history  has  profited 
little  by  their  ocean- wanderings. 

From  1347  to  1496  history  records  little  of  interest 
concerning  voyages  to  North  America,  until  June  24th 
of  the  latter  year,  when  John  Cabot,  commissioned  by 
King  Henry  VII.  of  England,  arrived  at  Labrador. 
Ridpath  declares  that  "this  was  the  real  discovery  of 
the  American  Continent."  Columbus  never  had  his 
foot  on  North  American  soil,  and  there  is  not  a  shred  of 
proof  that  Amerigo  Vespucci  made  his  vaunted  voyage 
in  1497,  with  the  exception  of  his  own  ipse  dixit,  which 
can  be  readily  controverted.* 

'  H.  B.  Worth,  Nantucket  Hist.  Assoc,  vol.  ii.,  Bull.  6,  p.  290. 

=  Vide  Winsor's  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  ii.,  137,  142. 


26  Nantucket 

Cabot  obtained  a  patent  from  the  King  "for  the 
purpose  of  discovering  unknown  lands  in  the  eastern, 
western,  and  northern  seas."  His  son  Sebastian  ac- 
companied him,  and,  in  1497-1498,  they  cruised  along 
the  coast  of  America  from  Florida  to  Labrador.  The 
claim  of  the  English  Government  to  Nantucket,  Martha's 
Vineyard,  and  the  Elizabeth  Islands  was  based  upon  the 
voyages  of  the  Cabots. 

Nantucket,  however,  looms  out  of  mythland  and 
into  genuine  history  in  June  or  July,  1602.  In  one  of 
these  months — it  is  not  certain  which — there  landed 
upon  its  shore  at  Sankaty  Head,  Bartholomew  Gosnold, 
an  English  mariner,  accompanied  by  some  thirty 
sailors,  who  were  en  route  for  Virginia,  seeking  a  new 
plantation. 

In  May,  1605,  Captain  Weymouth  is  said  to  have 
"become  entangled  among  the  Nantucket  shoals," 
and  in  1620,  Captain  Dermer  certainly  visited  the 
island.  ^ 

AMERICAN-INDIAN  PLACE-NAMES  IN  NANTUCKET  ISLAND' 

Agamy  or  Accomac,  signifying  "land  on  the  other  side, 
or  beyond  the  water."  The  term  was  apparently 
applied  to  the  plain  on  the  western  side  of  Hummock 
Pond. 

Ahapahant  or  Ahapachonsett,  a  tract  of  land  on  the 
western  side  of  Squam  Pond,  referred  to  in  a  deed  of 
1667.     A  large  Indian  village  was  in  its  vicinity. 

^  Drake's  Nooks  and  Corners  of  New  England,  p.  324. 

*  While  the  large  majority  of  these  Amerind  place-names  is  copied 
from  the  writer's  work  entitled  Dictionary  of  the  American- Indian  Place 
and  Proper  Names  in  New  England,  he  is  nevertheless  indebted  for  aid 
to  other  sources,  and  especially  to  the  list  compiled  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Worth 
in  Bulletin  No.  6,  vol.  ii.,  of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association's 
Papers. 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     27 

Aquidness  Neck,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Shimmo,  now- 
known  as  Abram's  Point.  It  was  known  as  Aquitnet 
Point  in  1722,  and  the  adjacent  land  was  named 
Aquidnose  tract. 

Aqunoonogqutut.  a  bound-mark  mentioned  in  deed  of 
January  9,  1668.  It  was  on  the  property  of  Nicor- 
noose,  and  has  been  translated  as  "the  hole  where  a 
stone  stands." 

AsHiMMO,  same  as  Shimmo,  q.  v.  It  means  "a  spring." 
1668. 

AsTiMMOOST  tract,  mentioned  in  deed  of  June  5,  1677. 

BococHico.  Main,  Federal,  and  Broad  streets  bounded  a 
section  of  Nantucket  town  so-called.  It  was  laid  out 
in  1744,  and  the  word  probably  means  "near  to  or 
next  the  harbor." 

BoGUE.  "The  end  of  Coatue  Peninsula,  across  the  harbor 
entrance  from  Brant  Point." — H.  B.  W. 

Canopache,  east  end  of  Nantucket.     "A  place  of  peace." 

Chapomis  and  Chappapemiset,  situated  between  Surfside 
and  Tom  Never's  Head.  Chappapemisset  was  alluded 
to  as  "the  great  valley"  in  1691;  also  in  a  deed  of 
July  I,  1690. 

Coatue  Neck  or  Coweightuet.  This  neck  and  point  was 
given  to  Edward  Starbuck  by  Nicornoose  "out  of 
free,  voluntary  love"  on  January  5,  1660.  It  was 
called  "Coretue"  in  the  deed.  It  means  "At  the 
pine- woods"  which  were  then  located  there.  The 
point  was  also  known  as  Nauma,  meaning  "Long 
Point." — O.  Macy,  Coatue  is  also  called  "Coddude" 
in  a  deed  of  1690. 

Cocyeania,  the  name  of  an  unidentified  valley  mentioned 
in  deed  of  1687. 

CoNSUE,  a  name  distinguishing  some  meadows  at  the  south 
end  of  Union  Street.  It  may  mean  "a  long  miry 
place." 

CosKATA  Pond,  and  Beach.  The  name  is  applied  to  the 
section   of   Great    Point   north   of   Wauwinet,    which 


2S  Nantucket 

contains  the  pond.    The  derivation  of  the  word  is  prob- 
ably from  aboriginal  words  signifying  "at  the  broad 
woods, "  which  are  stated  to  have  existed  in  the  locaHty. 
The  word  has  also  been  written  Coskaty  and  Koskata. 
CoTACKTA  or  CoTOCHTA  represents  a  tract  southwest  from 

Wauwinet  where  there  is  a  large  bowlder. 
Hashkinnit-chaopket,    a    bound-mark    of    Nicornoose's 

territory  mentioned  in  deed  of  January  9,  1668. 
Hummock  Pond,  a  corruption  for  Nanahumack. 
Kachkesset,  a  tract  on  the  west  side  of  Hummock  Pond, 
where  John  Swain  (the  proprietor)  and  his  father  had 
their  first  residences  on  the  island.     The  name  means 
"at  the  beginning." 
Kestokas  Field,  a  tract  mentioned  in  deed  of  1715. 
Koskata  Head,  vide  Coskata. 
KoTGET,   a  term  used  for  Muskeget  Island.     De  Laet's 

map,  1630. 
Lakeutta,  mentioned  in  deed  of  July  6,  1751. 
Madeket. 

Madaket,  the  west  end  section  of  Nantucket,  and  harbor. 
Maddaket,  The  word  Madaket  usually  means  "bad 
Madaquet.  land." 

Maddequet  Harbor. 
Mattaket. 

Madequecham  Pond,  at  east  of  Surfside,  on  south  shore. 
Maddequecham  Pond. 
Mattaquitchame  Pond. 
Mattaquitcham,  applied  to  "land  at  west  side  of  Matta- 

quitcham  Pond,"  1692. 
Mamre,  a  tract  mentioned  in  deed  of  1690. 
Mana,  vide  Mona.     Spotso's  deed,  1692. 
Mardadpoquehy,  a  boggy  tract  near  Masquetuck.     Polpis. 
Mascotuck  Neck,  west  side  of  Polpis  Harbor.     This  neck 
was  reserved  by  Thomas  Mayhew  when  he  sold  the 
island  to  the  settlers.     The  name  has  been  transferred 
from  the  river  flowing  into  the  harbor  and  means 
"Reed  River." 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     29 

Masquetuck,  same  as  Mascotuck,  and  Quaise. 

Mashquttoohk  River.  Polpis.  "Reed  River."  Deed 
January  9,  1668. 

Mashquaponitib,  a  bound-mark  of  Nicornoose's  territory, 
1668. 

Masquopack  or  Masquopeck  Creek,  running  through 
Pocomo  Meadows.  It  means  "Reed  Creek  land." 
Deed,  1687. 

Mattaquatcham,  same  as  Madequecham,  q.  v.  Deed, 
1690. 

Mekinnoowake,  a  bound-mark  of  Wauwinet's  territory. 

MiACOMET  Pond,  west  of  Surf-Side.  Means  "at  the  meet- 
ing-place." 

Miacomet  Village. 

MioxES,  two  small  ponds  near  Surfside.  The  word  is  a 
diminutive  of  Miacomet,  and  means  "  the  little  meeting- 
place." 

MoNA  or  Moona:  vide  Mana.  A  tract  "on  the  'Sconset 
Road,  south  of  the  second  milestone."  There  is  "a 
well  at  Mona"  mentioned  as  a  bound-mark  in  a  deed 
of  1692.  The  word  means  "deep,"  and  may  refer  to 
the  well.— H.  B.  W. 

MoNOMOY,  a  large  tract  in  the  vicinity  of  "the  Creeks," 
opposite  Nantucket,  on  the  other  side  of  the  harbor. 
The  word  means  "black  earth  or  soil." 

fMusKEGAT  Island,  west  of  Nantucket. 

JMusKEGET  Island.     Possibly  "place  of  grass-land." 

MusKEGET  Channel. 

Myacomet,  same  as  Miacomet,  g.  v. 

Nanahumacke.  Petty  sachem's  name.  He  owned  the 
neck  which  bears  his  name,  of  which  Hummock 
is  a  corruption,  and  it  has  been  transferred  to  the 
pond. 

Nanakumas  (Gov.  Winthrop). 

Nantucket  (Natocket).  "The  far  away  land,"  or  "the 
land  far  away  at  sea." — H.  B.  W. 

Naphchecoy.     Sankaty.     (0.  Macy.)     Vide  Sankaty. 


30  Nantucket 

Nashawomank  Neck,  near  No-Bottom  Pond.  Meaning 
said  to  be,  "an  enclosed  place  in  the  midst  of  the 
swamp." — H.  B.  W. 

Nashayte-Neck,  Polpis;  also  known  as  Swain's  Neck. 
It  means  "land  between  two  branches  of  a  tidal 
river." 

Natuckett.  Nantucket.  Mass.  Bay  Col.  Rec,  vol.  iv.,  p. 
199. 

Nauma,  another  name  for  Coatue  Point.  "Long  Point." — 
O.  Macy.     Now  called  "  Great  Point." 

Nebadier  or  Napaneah  Pond,  east  of  Surfside.  A  bound- 
mark,  1668. 

Nobadeer  Pond. 

NoPQUE.    Smith's  Point,  at  the  western  extremity  of  the 
island.     It    means    "the    farthest     point."     It     was 
formerly  used  as  a  landing  place  by   the  Martha's 
Vineyard  Indians,  who  were  known  as  Noapogs  or 
Noapx, — meaning   "the    far   away    people," — during 
their  intercourse  with  the  Nantucketers. 
OccowA  Tract.     Plainfield,  Nantucket.     1752. 
OcCAWA,  name  of  Indian  village,  and  place  of  meeting- 
house. 
Oggawame  or  Oukawoom.     Deed,  June  5,  1752. 
Okormaw. 
Orkawa.     Deed,  1751. 

OuGQUAHQUAM.  A  marshland  in  Shimmo  near  bowl- 
ders. 

Pacummohquah  Neck,  same  as  Pocomo.     1662. 

Pasocha  Valley,  near  Chappapemiset :  "a  detached 
place."     July  i,  1690. 

Peedee  Village,  southeast  of  Sesachacha  Pond. 

Penetahpah  Creek,  near  Shimmo. 

Poatpos  Creek.     Polpis?     1684. 

PocHiCK  Shoal,  off  Siasconset. 

PocHic  Rip,  off  Siasconset. 

PocoY,  a  tract  east  of  Hummock  Pond,  signifying  "clear  or 
open." 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     31 

PocoMO,  a  head  and    tract   northeast  of  Polpis  Harbor. 

"A  clear  fishing-place." 
PoDPis,  same  as  Polpis.     Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Col. 
PoKAMQUOH  Neck.     Deed,  July  19,  1673. 
Polpis  Village,  about  equidistant  from  Nantucket  and 

Wauwinet. 
Polpis  Harbor. 
PoNCAMMOONCOE  Neck,  Same  as  Pacummoquah  and  Po- 

como,  1662. 
Popsquatchet,  or  Mill  Hills,  south  of  Nantucket. 
PoQUOMOCK  Neck,  east  of  Nantucket,  same  as  Pocomo. 

Deed,  1671. 
Pquaopuackus,  a  tract  in  Gibbs's  Swamp. 
Potcomet  Tract,  same  as  Pottacohannet. 
Pott ACOH ANNEX    Tract.     Named    after    old    sachem    of 

Tuckernuck. 
QuAiSE,  another  name  for  Masquetuck,  meaning  "the  end 

or  point." 
QuAYZ,  same  as  Quaise. 
QuANATA,  a  bluff  or  hill  on  the  east  side  of  Orange  Street. 

"A  long  hill." 
QuiDNET,  probably  a  contraction  for  Aquidnet  or  Aquit- 
net.       "At    the    point."      It    is    situated    south   of 
Wauwinet. 
Sanckatuck,  same  as  Sankaty.     Deed,  Nov.  3,  1691. 
Sankaty  Head,  north   of   Siasconset,  where   the  light- 
house stands.     Derivation  uncertain. 
Sankoty  Head. 

Sachacha  Pond,  north  of  Sankaty.     Derivation  uncer- 
tain. 
Sasacacheh  Village,  same  as  Sachacha.     Mass.  Hist. 

Soc.  Col. 
Sasagachah  Pond.     Deed,  1745. 
Seanakonkonet,  a  bound-mark  near  Toupche  Pond. 

1668. 
Sesachacha. 
.  Sesachaca  Pond,  same  as  Sachacha. 


32  Nantucket 

Shaukimmo  Tract,  north  shore. — Governor  Winthrop. 
Shawkemo  Tract,  north  shore,  "middle  field  of  land." — ■ 

O.  Macy. 
Shawkemo  Hills  and  Creek.     Deed,  1673. 
Shaukimnes,  same  as  Shawkemo.     Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Col. 
Shimmo  Point  and  Shore,  same  as  Ashimmo.     "A  spring." 
Shimmoah,  Indian  village. 

Siasconset.     "Near  the  great  bone." — H.  B.  W. 
SisiCKECHAR,  same  as  Sachacha.     Deed,  1682. 
Squam,  a  contraction  for  Wunnisquam,  1668.     It  may  mean 

"at  the  top  of  the  rock,"  or  "beautiful  water." 

{Squatesit,  applied  to  a  place  where  an  Indian  meeting- 
house stood. — Governor  Winthrop. 
Squotesit.     It  has  not  been  identified. 
Stirvakenishoos,  a  spring  denoting  a  boundary  at  Mas- 
quetuck,  1678. 
Tautemco,  the  south  part  of  Hummock  Pond. 
Tawtemco. 

Tautemeo,  "the  west  sea  called  Tautemeo." — Z.  Macy. 
Tawnatpeinse,  a  tract  near  No-Bottom  Pond. 

{Tetankimmo,  "a  spring." — Governor  Winthrop. 
Tetaukimmo,   "a  place  north   of   second   milestone   on 
Siasconset  Road."— H.  B.  W. 
TouPCHE,  a  small  pond  on  south  shore. 
TucKANUCK  Island,  west  of   Nantucket.     The  original 
word  was  Petockenock,  signifying  "a    round    cake  of 
bread."     De  Laet,  1630. 

TUCKERNUC. 
TUCKERNUCK. 

Wagutuquab  Pond,  same  as  Waquettaquage.     Deed,  1671 . 
Wamasquid,  an  unidentified  locality  where  there  was  a 

meeting-house  in  1674. — H.  B.  W. 
Wammasquid. — Governor  Winthrop. 
Wannacomet,    district   on   north   side   of   island.     1664. 

"Beautiful  field." 
Wannasquam,  same- as  Squam.     1751.     "Beautiful  water 
or  rock." 


Legends  and  Amerind  Place-Names     33 

Waquettaquage,  usually  applied  to  a  pond,  but  should 

be  a  tract.     Deed,  167 1. 
Waquittaquay. 

Waqutuquaib,  applied  to  ponds  north  of  head  of  Hum- 
mock Pond. 
Waunashqua,  same  as  Wannasquam. 
Wauwinet,    village   at   head   of  harbor,   named   for   old 
sachem  of  district. 
Weecodnoy,  the  rim  of  land    between    Sachacha  Pond 

and  the  ocean. 
Weequodnoy. 
Weeweder  Pond,  at  south  shore;  from  its  shape,  meaning 

"a  pair  of  horns." — Macy. 
Wequitaquage,    same    as    Waquettaquage.     A    bound- 
mark  in  1660. 
Wesko,  site  of  Nantucket  town,  meaning  "a  white  stone." 

"Indian  Bulletin,"  1867. 
Wesquo,  tract  in  east  section  of  island. 
WoNNASHQUOON,  same  as  Wannasquam. 

THE   NANTUCKET    INDIANS^ 

The  red-man  trod  thy  hills, 
His  thirst  slaked  at  thy  rills 

In  days  of  yore; 
His  cattle  grazed  the  plain. 
His  lowing  herds'  refrain 
Sounded  in  mingled  strain 

From  shore  to  shore. 


Ofttimes,  at  close  of  day, 
He  hummed  his  own  low  lay, 
Along  his  sandy  way 
Beside  the  sea: 

'  Condensed   from  Centennial  Ode  (in  memory  of  Abram   Quary), 
by  the  late  Samuel  Haynes  Jenks. 


34  Nantucket 

Taking  his  finny  prey, 
He  feasted  daintily 
By  the  soft  evening  ray, 
In  wildness  free. 

Now  softly  doth  he  sleep 
Beside  the  bubbHng  deep, — 

The  whispering  foam; 
His  life-work  fully  done, 
Its  battle  ably  won, 
With  dreams  of  setting  sun 

To  lure  him  home. 

Secure  he  rests  from  harm 
On  the  Great  Spirit's  arm, 

With  upturned  face. 
Where  still  at  eventide, 
His  soul  to  God  alUed, 
He  rests  in  all  his  pride, 

Last  of  his  race. 

Here  the  white-crested  wave 
Doth  in  its  beauty  lave, 

And  vigil  keep: 
Madly  the  wild  winds  rave 
Within  each  secret  cave, 
Where  the  lone  Indian  brave 

Sleeps  his  last  sleep. 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  ABORIGINES 


A  CONCENSUS  of  modem  scientific  opinion  favors  the 
belief  that  the  so-called  American  Indian  race  repre- 
sents the  autochthonous  people  or  aborigines  of  the 
great  American  continent.  Referring  to  the  origin  of 
the  American  Indians,  Professor  Pritchard  says: 

The  era  of  their  existence  as  a  distinct  and  insulated 
race  must  probably  be  dated  as  far  back  as  that  time 
which  separated  into  nations  the  inhabitants  of  the  Old 
World,  and  gave  to  each  branch  of  the  human  family  its 
primitive  language  and  individuality. 

The  origin  of  the  Amerinds  of  America  has  still  to  be 
sought  amid  the  sources  of  the  various  races  of  mankind 
from  primeval  times. 

The  Indian  tribes  of  New  England  belonged  to  the 
great  Algonquian  Confederacy — the  most  widely  ex- 
tended of  all  the  North  American  Indians,  their  terri- 
tory stretching  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Labrador 
to  PamHco  Sound,  and  westward,  from  Newfoundland 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  three  principal  Massachusetts  tribes  were  the 
Massachusetts  or  Naticks,  the  Nipmucks,  and  the 
Wampanoags,  the  latter  under  the  dominance  of  Mas- 
sasoit  when  the  Pilgrims  arrived,  and,  at  that  time,  the 
third  greatest  nation  in  New  England. 

35 


36  Nantucket 

The  island  of  Nantucket,  when  first  settled  by  the 
whites,  was  occupied  by  two  tribes  whose  names  have 
not  been  preserved.  One  occupied  the  west  end  of  the 
island,  and  was  supposed  to  have  come  from  the  main- 
land by  way  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  The  other  lived 
at  the  east  end,  and  is  said  to  have  come  direct  from 
the  mainland.  The  two  tribes  were  independent  and 
were,  at  a  time,  hostile  to  each  other.  The  tribe  which 
came  from  Martha's  Vineyard  was  subject  to  the 
Wampanoags.  ^ 

With  regard  to  the  number  of  Indians  occupying 
the  island  when  the  whites  arrived  the  statements  vary 
considerably,  some  writers  alleging  3000,  others  1500, 
and  some  still  less.  There  is  some  difficulty  in  forming 
a  correct  estimate,  but  it  is  known  as  a  fact  that  they 
only  numbered  about  360  before  they  became  victims 
to  the  epidemic  which  destroyed  so  many  of  them. 

When  Nantucket  was  purchased,  in  1659,  by  the 
colonists,  there  were  two  chief  sachems,  Wanackma- 
mack  and  Nicomoose  (acting  probably  for  Wauwinet), 
and  at  least  two  other  sachems,  Autopscot  (or  Atta- 
pehat)  and  Potconet  or  Pottacohannet, — besides  a  few 
petty  sachems, — governing  all  the  Indians  on  Nan- 
tucket and  Tuckemuck.  It  may  be  assumed  that  at  this 
time  Wauwinet  was  old  and  feeble,  and  that  his  eldest 
son,  known  as  Nicomoose,  acted  as  his  deputy,  inas- 
much as  among  several  of  the  earliest  deeds  we  find 
Nicomoose  signing  as  sachem,  and  there  are  no  signa- 
tures by  his  father.  Mr.  Zaccheus  Macy,  in  his  valu- 
able letter  to  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  dated 
October  2,  1792,  ^  mentions  Wauwinet  as  living  when  the 
settlers  arrived,  but  alludes  to  him  as  "the old  sachem." 

'  Handbook  of  American  Indians,  vol.  ii.,  p.  26. 
*  Vide  Macy's  History  of  Nantucket. 


The  Aborigines  37 

Among  the  Indian  tribes  there  were  generally  one  or 
two  sachems  who  controlled  all  the  others.  These 
were  known  as  chief  or  head  sachems,  and  they  ex- 
ercised absolute  control.  Such  in  Nantucket  were 
Wanackmamack  and  Wauwinet  or  the  latter's  son. and 
successor,  Nicomoose. 

According  to  Zaccheus  Macy,  Wanackmamack's 
territory  represented  the  southeast  of  the  island  and 
was  bounded  by  a  line  running  from  Toupchue  or 
Toupche  Pond  in  the  south,  northward,  roughly  to 
Gibbs's  Pond,  and  so  over  toward  Podpis  Swamp,  and 
then  eastward  to  Sesacacha  Pond.^ 

Wanackmamack  had  one  son,  Saucoauso  or  Jeptha, 
who  married  Eastor. 

Saucoauso  had  two  sons,  Cain  and  Abel. 

Cain  had  one  daughter,  Jemima,  who  married  James 
Shay,  Shea,  or  Shaa. 

Abel  had  two  sons,  Ben  Abel  and  Eben  Abel. 

Wanackmamack  died  before  June  9,  1682,  because 
his  son,  Saucoauso,  on  this  date,  "having  understood 
that  his  father  Wanackmamack  now  deceased,  had 
granted  [to]  English  pasturage  on  east  end  of  island, 
also  sells  same." 

Wauwinet's  boundary  line  adjoined  that  of  Wanack- 
mamack on  the  north,  extending  due  north  to  Coatue 
and  Nauma,  westward  to  Wesco  (now  Nantucket),  and 
hence  almost  due  south  to  Weeweder  Pond. 

Wauwinet  had  two  sons,  Isaac  or  Nicornoose  (also 
known  as  Nickanoose),  and  Waupordongga,  and  one 
daughter,  Wonoma,  who  married  Autopscot. 

Nicomoose  had  two  sons,  Joshua  and  Isaac  Wau- 
winet, and  one  daughter,  Askommopoo,  by  his  wife. 

'  These  and  the  boundaries  of  the  other  sachems'  property  are  clearly 
delineated  on  Dr.  Ewer's  map  of  Nantucket. 


38  Nantucket 

Askommopoo  married  Spoospotswa,  known  as  "  Spotso." 

Nicornoose  forsook  his  wife  and  by  another  woman 
had  two  sons,  Wat  and  Paul  Noose, 

Joshua  Nicornoose  was  so  disgusted  by  his  father's 
leaving  his  mother  that  he  left  home  altogether,  and 
did  not  return  until  after  an  absence  of  over  fifty  years, 
when  he  claimed  his  inheritance.  This  was,  after  some 
delay,  restored  to  him. 

Autopscot's  jurisdiction  extended  over  the  south- 
west of  the  island  from  Weeweder  Pond  northerly  to 
Monomoy,  and  then  westward  to  the  Popsquatchet 
hills  and  to  Hummock  Pond. 

Autopscot  had  a  son,  Harry  Poritain,  or  Beretan,  by 
Wonoma,  his  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Wauwinet. 

Harry  Poritain  had  a  son  named  Isaac  Masauquet. 

Masauquet  had  a  son  named  Peter. 

Peter  had  a  son  known  as  Lame  Isaac,  who  ceded 
the  last  rights  of  his  sachemdom. 

Autopscot  had  also  grandchildren  named  Tashama, 
of  whom  more  anon. 

Potconet's  (or  Pottacohannet's)  dominions  are  im- 
certain,  and  there  is  some  doubt  as  to  their  limitations. 
It  is  at  least  certain  that  he  was  sachem  of  the  adjacent 
island  of  Tuckemuck,  but  Zaccheus  Macy,  in  his  well- 
known  letter,  states  that  his  bounds  extended  from 
Madaket  down  eastward  to  Wesko  and  Capaum  Pond, 
thus  lying  north  of  Autopscot's  possessions,  and  that 
they  also  included  the  western  coast.  Moreover,  Dr. 
Ewer's  map — probably  based  upon  the  information 
supplied  by  Macy — delineates  the  northwestern  section 
of  the  island  as  having  belonged  to  Potconet;  but  no 
proof  is  in  evidence,  and  although  it  seems  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  some  sachem  must  have  represented 
this  section  of  the  island,  no  deed  has  been  found  to 


The  Aborigines  39 

cover  it.  Macy  also  asserts  that  Potconet  sold  all  his 
rights  to  the  English  settlers,  save  those  reserved  and 
secured  to  some  of  the  old  natives.  The  sections  re- 
served— known  as  the  Hoights  and  Jafets — were  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Wannacomet  or  Capaum  Pond. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  from  a  footnote  to  Hough's  -Nan- 
tucket Papers,  it  appears  that,  on  February  20,  1661, 
Wanackmamack,  head-chief  of  Nantucket,  sold  to 
Tristram  Coffin,  Sr.,  Peter  Coffin,  Tristram  Coffin,  Jr., 
and  James  Coffin,  for  £10,  half  of  the  island  of  Tucker- 
nuck — one  half  down,  and  the  other,  when  Thomas 
Mayhew  decides  who  is  the  proper  owner. 

Potconet  or  Pottacohannet  had  two  sons,  Akeamong, 
or  Ahkeiman,  and  Jacob. 

Why  did  neither  of  these  sons  claim  his  rights  until 
1672 — a  period  of  eleven  years?  Was  Potconet  living 
in  1661?  These  questions  have  still  to  be  answered, 
although  the  writer  has  unsuccessfully  sought  in  every 
direction  for  a  satisfactory  reply. 

In  the  Registry  of  Nantucket  Deeds,  under  date 
Jime  20,  1672,  is  the  following  entry: 

Ahkeiman  laying  claim  to  part  of  Tuckanuck  his  claim 
thereto  is  found  no  other  but  as  he  was  a  duke  or  principal 
man  upon  Nantucket;  the  Nantucket  Sachems,  together  with 
his  father,  having  sold  Tuckanuck,  it  is  ordered  that  he  shall 
have  such  a  part  or  portion  of  land  for  his  use  at  Nantucket 
of  the  present  Sachems  as  will  become  one  of  such  quality, 
and  a  portion  of  the  whales. 

On  page  211  of  the  Book  of  Town  Records,  dated 
March,  1681,  there  is  a  record  of  a  bargain  between 
James  Coffin,  Peter  Coffin,  John  Coffin,  and  Stephen 
Coffin,  and  Ackeamong  and  Jacob,  sons  of  Pottacohan- 
net (Potconet),  concerning  Tuckanuckett,  said  Ackea- 


40  Nantucket 

mong  and  Jacob  claiming  half  of  it.  The  said  Coffins 
having  delivered  them  forty  acres  arable  land  on  Nan- 
tucket and  £5,  and  disclaiming  any  right  to  any  whale, 
the  said  Ackeamong  and  Jacob  renounce  any  claim  to 
any  part  of  Tuckemuck,  reserving  liberty  to  save  their 
whale  that  may  come  ashore. 

To  this  are  affixed  the  marks  of  Ackeamong  and  Jacob, 
and  the  signatures  of  James  Coffin  and  Stephen  Coffin, 
6th  of  March,  1681. 

Witnessed  by  William  Worth  and  Richard  Pincom 
(Pinkham),  and  acknowledged  on  the  same  date  before 
William  Worth,  magistrate. 

It  does  not  appear,  however,  why  the  order  of  the 
Court  made  in  1672  was  not  carried  out  until  1681 — 
a  period  of  nine  years. 

Potconet  must,  therefore,  have  died  before  March 
6,  1681,  or  his  sons  could  not  have  made  the  above 
agreement;  if,  indeed,  he  was  not  dead  before  1672, 
when  Akeamong  made  his  first  claim. 

Some  confusion  has  arisen  as  to  the  standing  of  Nana- 
huma,  who  signed  the  first  Indian  deed  with  Nicka- 
noose.     Mr.  H.  Barnard  Worth'  says: 

.  .  .  They  (the  English)  obtained  a  deed,  dated  June 
20,  1659,  from  the  Sachems  Nickanoose  and  Nanahuma, 
of  a  tract  comprising  the  section  of  Nantucket  west  of 
Hummock  Pond.^  George  Nanahuma  was  the  sachem  of 
the  Indians  that  lived  in  this  section  but  Nickanoose  held 
some  sway  over  him,  and  joined  in  the  conveyance. 

With  this  the  writer  is  in  perfect  accord,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Mr.  Worth's  using  the  definite  instead  of  the 

'Bulletin  3,  vol.  ii.,  p.  112,  Nantucket  Historical  Association's 
Publications. 

^  The  western  half  of  Nantucket  was  sold  by  Wanackmamack, 
February  20,  1661. 


The  Aborigines  41 

indefinite  article,  as  indicated  in  boldface  in  the  above 
quotation.  It  should  read  thus:  "Comprising  a  section 
of  Nantucket  west  of  Hummock  Pond";  and  further, 
"George  Nanahuma  was  a  sachem  of  the  Indians,  etc." 
The  force  of  this  will  be  seen  presently. 

There  is  no  deed  to  prove  who  was  the  legitimate 
sachem,  if  any  existed,  of  the  western  section  of  Nan- 
tucket, but  a  section  west  of  Hummock  Pond  appar- 
ently belonged  to  Nanahuma,  viz.,  the  neck  which 
bears  his  name,  part  of  the  woods  to  the  north  of  it, 
and  he  possibly  may  have  had  a  proprietary  interest 
in  the  large  plain  farther  west.  This  view  is  borne  out 
in  the  "first  Indian  Deed." 

In  this  deed  "the  plain"  is  evidently  immediately 
west  of  Nanahuma' s  Neck  from  the  use  of  the  word 
Acamy  in  the  deed  ("on  the  other  side  of  the  water"), 
and  its  locality  is  further  fixed  by  the  description  of  its 
position,  which  agrees  almost  mathematically  with  its 
exact  actual  position.'  While  the  writer  is  sorry  to 
differ  from  Mr.  Worth  when  he  says,  "the  deed  of 
Nanahuma  indicates  that  at  the  time  he  was  sachem 
over  the  west  end  of  Nantucket,"  it  might  as  truly  be 
said  that  the  co-signer  was  sachem  over  the  west  end 
of  Nantucket,  which  we  know  he  never  was. 

It  is  very  probable  that  Nanahuma  was  a  subsidiary 
or  petty  local  sachem,  tributary  to  Nickanoose,  and 
that  all  the  property  he  owned  as  a  sachem  was  re- 
stricted within  the  limitations  already  indicated.  This 
is  confirmed  by  his  only  subsequent  deed,  dated  June 
24,  1678,  by  which  he  disposes  of  "all  his  interest  in 
the  West  plains,  and  to  the  Neck  or  long  woods"  to  the 
English.  Besides,  according  to  the  delimitation  of 
the    other   sachems   as   already  given,  none   of   them 

•  Vide  Ewer's  map. 


42  Nantucket 

interfered  with  those  just  mentioned  as  belonging  to 
Nanahuma. 

Indeed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  Nanahuma  at  this 
time  owned  the  neck  which  bore  his  name,  for,  on  July 
4,  1664,  "all  the  fields  belonging  to  the  Neck"  were 
sold  to  the  English  by  Pakapanessa,  Jonas  Kimmo,  and 
Harry,  son  of  Wapakowet,  who  were  probably  residents 
of  the  identical  "plain"  which  was  sold  by  Nanahuma 
in  1659.  Moreover,  in  1667,  we  find  Nanahuma  asso- 
ciated with  "Mr.  Larry  Ahkeramo"  and  Obadiah  in  a 
plea  to  the  Court  that  "whereas  the  sachems  had  sold 
the  ground  they  formerly  lived  on  to  the  English,  the 
said  sachems  would  not  entertain  them  on  the  land 
unsold."  Curiously  enough,  in  1678,  we  find  George 
Nanahuma,  alias  Cowpohanet,  selling  to  the  English 
"all  his  interest  in  the  West  plains,  and  in  the  Neck  or 
long  woods."  There  verily  seems  to  have  been  a 
joint  stock  company  in  these  lands! 

If  Potconet  had  no  jurisdiction  over  the  northwest 
section  of  Nantucket,  and  if  no  evidence  is  in  existence 
as  to  any  other  sachem  holding  predominant  rights 
over  it,  may  it  not  be  suggested  that  it  was  mainly 
divided  up  into  reallotments  for  the  Indians  who  were 
dispossessed  by  the  requirements  of  the  whites,  and 
over  whom  subsidiary  sachems  or  sagamores  were  ap- 
pointed, of  whom  there  were  several?  Of  course,  this 
is  a  mere  suggestion. 

We  talk  glibly  and  deprecatingly  of  the  poor  Indians 
as  "mere  savages,"  but  the  annals  of  American  history 
afford  but  few  instances  of  really  nobler  men  than 
Massasoit,  Passaconaway,  Samoset,  and  Wanackma- 
mack,  the  controlling  head  sachem  of  Nantucket. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  high  personal  qualities  of  such 
men  New  England  might  not  have  occupied  to-day  the 


The  Aborigines  43 

proud  position  which  she  now  holds  among  the  United 
States. 

The  venerable  chief  Wanackmamack  was  not  only 
the  pride  and  glory  of  his  insular  braves,  but  the  tried, 
true,  and  loyal  friend  of  the  English  immigrants.  He 
was  as  kind-hearted  and  judicious  as  he  was  courageous 
and  high  principled,  and  he  governed  his  home-land 
so  ably  and  satisfactorily  as  to  justify  his  memory  in 
history  as  an  exemplary  ruler. 

Of  Wauwinet  little  is  known  but  that  he  was  very 
old  and  much  respected  when  the  settlers  arrived,  and 
nothing,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  has 
been  said  against  him. 

Nicomoose,  his  eldest  son  and  successor,  has  not  a 
good  record,  as  he  deserted  his  wife  and  children,  and 
had  two  children  by  another  woman. 

Beyond  the  fact  that  Autopscot  was  called  "a  great 
warrior  and  got  his  land  by  his  bow,"  and  that  he  per- 
manently established  peace  throughout  the  island,  very 
Httle  is  recorded  of  him.  Nor  does  history  mention 
anything  concerning  Potconet,  the  sachem  ruling  the 
proximate  western  islands,  with  the  exception  of  a 
record  of  the  sale  of  his  lands  to  the  settlers,  in  1659. 
Such  were  the  rulers  of  Nantucket  when  the  settlers 
arrived. 

What  a  revelation  the  incoming  of  the  whites  must 
have  been  to  the  red  men,  who  had  lived  on  the  island, 
probably  from  a  very  early  age,  among  their  own  people, 
under  their  own  laws,  perpetuating  their  own  habits 
and  customs — living  close  to  Nature — for  the  most  part 
in  peace  and  amity — simple  in  their  lives,  and  knowing 
nothing,  caring  nothing  for  the  external  world  beyond 
them! 

Yet,  on  the  arrival  of  the  new  people  who  had  come 


44  Nantucket 

to  supplant  them,  they  received  them  amicably,  treated 
them  justly,  and  as  they  treated  one  another,  relying 
upon  what  they  recognized  as  the  instinctive  and  in- 
alienable principles  of  humanity  to  govern  their  rela- 
tionships and  to  promote  the  mutual  good  and  harmony 
of  all.  It  is  needless  to  inquire  as  to  who  first  took 
advantage  of  the  racial  differences  which  distinguished 
these  two  peoples,  or  how  the  greater  intellectuality 
and  experience  of  the  one  eventually  overcame  the 
other,  but  Time  tells  the  story;  and  to-day,  while  the 
whites  glory  in  the  beauties  of,  and  the  opportunities 
afforded  by  their  island  home,  where  are  the  poor 
Indians,  the  aborigines?  All  gone — melted  away  like 
dewdrops  in  the  sun,  and  not  even  one  remains  to  tell 
the  story  of  their  past  history! 

When  King  Philip  visited  the  island  in  1665  ^^^ 
tried  to  induce  the  natives  to  join  in  his  contemplated 
war  with  the  English,  they  emphatically  refused  to  do 
so,  expressing  themselves  as  perfectly  satisfied  and 
desiring  to  be  at  peace  with  the  whites.  Indeed,  at  a 
town  meeting,  on  October  10,  1665,  Attaychat  (Autop- 
scot)  "signified  that  himself  with  all  the  Tomokom- 
moth  Indians  subject  to  the  EngHsh  Government  in 
Nantucket  acknowledge  subjection  to  King  Charles  II. 
This  was  done  in  the  presence  of  Metacomet,  alias 
Philip,  Sachem  of  Mount  Hop." 

Unfortunately,  civilization  has  too  often  brought  in 
its  wake  habits  and  customs  which  have  ever  proved 
degenerative,  if  not  destructive,  to  the  uncivilized  races 
of  the  earth,  and  so  they  proved  to  the  Indians,  who 
were  sober,  industrious,  and  happy  before  the  settlers 
introduced  among  them  the  iniquitous  "fire-water," 
to  the  abuse  of  which  they  fell  a  prey.  Acting  under 
its  pernicious  influence  their  primitive  instincts  were 


The  Aborigines  45 

aroused  within  them,  and  never  afterwards  were  they 
the  same  people.  Discontent  soon  spread  among  them, 
and  litigation  in  the  courts — to  which  they  had  equal 
access  with  the  whites — became  so  very  frequent  that 
the  records  extend  from  1673  to  1754. 

It  is  not  alleged  that  alcohol  was  at  the  bottom  of 
all  these  cases,  but  that  it  made  the  natives  excita- 
ble, litigious,  and  dissatisfied  is  certain,  without  any 
reference  to  the  misconduct  and  crime  which  it  often 
prompted,  and  which  frequently  resulted  from  its  in- 
fluence. In  many  cases  they  found  that  the  courts 
decided  against  them,  and  they  became  discouraged. 
Moreover,  they  were  astounded  at  the  fastly  increas- 
ing number  of  whites  on  the  island  (so  that  offensive 
measures  were  out  of  the  question) ,  and  as  a  matter  of 
fact  they  never  could  be  made  to  understand  that  the 
execution  of  a  sale-deed  of  their  property  involved  its 
absolute  surrender  to  the  purchaser,  however  many 
attempts  they  made  to  regain  their  land. 

Mr.  Thomas  Macy  wrote  a  forceful  letter  to  the 
governor,  in  May,  1676,  as  to  the  pernicious  effects  of 
drink  upon  the  natives,  but  every  effort  made  to  miti- 
gate the  evil  by  legislative  measures  failed ;  the  natives 
who  craved  for  it  would  sacrifice  all  they  possessed, 
and  one  way  and  another  they  generally  found 
means  of  obtaining  it.  Fines  and  whipping  were 
inflicted  for  drunkenness  and  misdemeanors,  but  the 
death-penalty  was  never  exacted  except  in  cases  of  de- 
liberate murder.  It  is  recorded  that,  between  1704 
and  1769,  ten  natives  were  executed  for  capital  crimes.' 

On  the  other  hand  it  has  been  stated  that  Quibby — 
who  murdered  Harry  Gardner — was  the  first  and  only 
Indian  executed  in  Nantucket  since  its  settlement  by 

'  Obed  Macy,  opus  cit. 


46  Nantucket 

the  whites.  Macy's  instances,  however,  seem  well 
substantiated.  ^ 

While  allusion  to  such  misconduct  is  made  with 
some  reluctance  yet  facts  cannot  be  concealed,  although 
the  evildoers  were  always  in  the  minority,  but  in 
justice  to  the  memory  of  the  natives  it  must  be  said 
that  perhaps  the  majority  of  them  were  exemplary  in 
their  lives — many  of  them  pious — and  good  steady 
husbandmen  and  craftsmen.  As  a  race  they  have 
been  much  misrepresented,  and  if  revengeful,  it  was 
only  when  their  subduers  had  treated  them  cruelly  or 
unjustly. 

Spirited  efforts  had  been  made  to  introduce  Christian- 
ity among  the  natives,  and  the  results  on  Nantucket 
were  probably  more  successful  than  in  any  other  sec- 
tion of  New  England.  Thus  Barber  (in  his  Historical 
Collections,  p.  448)  says:  "Soon  after  the  English  had 
settled  on  the  island,  attempts  were  made  to  convert 
the  Indians  to  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  and,  in  course  of 
years,  all  of  them  became  nominal  Christians." 

Soon  after  1680,  all  the  old  sachems  who  were  alive 
when  the  English  arrived  had  passed  away,  and  their 
successors  reigned  in  their  stead. 

As  Macy  says:  "The  Indians  were  instructed  in  the 
mode  of  fishing  practised  by  the  whites,  and,  in  return, 
the  whites  were  assisted  by  the  Indians  in  pursuing  the 
business."  Another  writer  says:  "There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  Natick  Indians  hunted  the  whale  in  canoes,  in 
a  manner  somewhat  similar  to  that  practised  to-day  by 
the  Bow-Headers  of  the  north  coast  of  Siberia."  More- 
over, the  writer  has  been  personally  informed  by  a 
gentleman  of  much  culture  and  experience  who  knows 
as  much  about  the  Nantucket  whaling  industry  as  any 

'  Miriam  Coffin. 


The  Aborigines  47 

man  now  alive,  that  "hunting  the  whale  was  well- 
known  and  long  practised  by  the  Nantucket  Indians." 
If  any  further  evidence  is  deemed  necessary  it  may  be 
found  in  the  following  quotation  from  Weymouth's 
Voyage: 

One  especial  thing  in  their  manner  of  killing  a  whale  which 
they  [the  Indians]  call  powdawe,  and  will  describe  his  form, 
how  he  bloweth  up  the  water,  and  that  he  is  twelve  fathoms 
long,  and  that  they  go  in  company  with  their  King,  with  a 
multitude  of  their  boats,  and  strike  him  with  a  bone  miade 
in  the  fashion  of  a  harping  iron,  fastened  to  a  rope,  which 
they  make  great  and  strong  of  the  bark  of  trees  which  they 
veer  out  after  him;  that  all  their  boats  come  about  him, 
and  as  he  riseth  above  water,  with  their  arrows  they  shoot 
him  to  death.  When  they  have  killed  him  and  dragged 
him  to  shore,  they  call  all  their  chief  lords  together,  and 
sing  a  song  of  joy,  and  these  chief  lords,  whom  they  call 
sagamores,  divide  the  spoil  and  give  to  every  man  a  share ; 
which  pieces  so  distributed  they  hang  up  about  their  houses 
for  provision,  and  when  they  boil  them  they  blow  off  the 
fat,  and  put  in  their  pease,  maize,  and  other  pulse  which 
they  eat. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Nantucket  Indians 
joined  gladly  in  the  chase  of  whales,  and  that  they  were 
fully  as  dexterous  as  the  whites,  not  only  in  securing, 
but  in  dealing  with  the  carcasses  afterwards. 

The  year  1763-64  was,  indeed,  a  sad  one  for  the 
Indians  of  Nantucket,  inasmuch  as,  from  August  in 
the  former  year  to  February  in  the  latter,  they  suffered 
from  a  malignant  form  of  epidemic  which,  even  yet, 
has  not  been  identified,  although  the  probability  is  that 
it  was  either  typhus  or  typhoid  fever,  smallpox  or  yellow 
fever.  Curiously  enough,  of  the  English  who  visited 
them  daily,  caring  for  and  nursing  the  afflicted  natives, 


48  Nantucket 

not  one  was  affected  by  the  pestilence,  which  ceased 
suddenly,  without  previous  abatement,  on  the  i6th  of 
February,  1764.  Before  the  epidemic  broke  out  there 
were  358  Indians  on  the  island,  of  whom  222  perished, 
leaving  only  136  natives  to  represent  the  race.^ 

In  1 791  there  were  but  four  male  Indians  and  sixteen 
females  left  on  the  island,  and  in  1809  there  were  only 
three  or  four  persons  of  pure  blood  and  a  few  of  mixed 
race. 

From  1664  to  1774  the  records  consist  mainly  of  land 
sales  from  the  Indians  to  the  EngHsh;  of  complaints 
of  one  Indian  against  another,  or  others  in  relation  to 
land  sales,  and  of  controversies  about  their  respective 
claims  to  whales.  Within  this  period  also  one  re- 
peatedly notices  the  names  of  the  successors  of  the 
old  sachems,  for  several  generations;  but,  concurrent 
with  these,  up  to  1754,  are  the  records  of  many  attempts 
on  the  part  of  some  of  the  Indians  to  regain  their  lands. 

The  perusal  of  these  is  very  interesting,  but  those 
who  may  desire  to  obtain  a  full  knowledge  of  such 
matters  are  referred  to  the  ample  and  careful  reports 
given  by  Mr.  Henry  B.  Worth  in  the  Bulletins  of  the 
Nantucket  Historical  Association.  ^ 

In  1693  the  island  of  Nantucket,  ceded  from  the 
Provincial  Government  of  New  York,  was  incorporated 
in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts. 

NAMES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  NANTUCKET  INDIANS  OCCURRING 
IN  THE  REGISTRY  OF  DEEDS,  PETITIONS,  ETC. 

Wanackmamack,  head  sachem  of  Nantucket  in  1659. 
Wauwinet,  aged  head  sachem  of  northeastern  section. 
NicoRNOOSE,  successor  to  Wauwinet. 

'  Obed  Macy,  opus  cit.  *  Vide  vol.  ii.,  Bulletin  3. 


The  Aborigines  49 

AuTOPSCOT  (Attapechat  or  Attaychat),  sachem  of  south- 
western section. 

PoTCONET  (or  Pottacohannet),  sachem  of  Tuckernuck,  etc. 

Nanahuma,  probably  a  petty  sachem. 

Harry,  a  witness,  son  of  Wapakowet. 

Wauwinnesit,  or  Amos,  second  son  of  Nicornoose. 

Saucoauso,  alias  Jeptha,  son  of  Wanackmamack. 

Joshua  Jethro,  eldest  son  of  Nicornoose. 

Wat  Noose,  bastard  son  of  Nicornoose. 

Paul  Noose,  bastard  son  of  Nicornoose. 

Masauquet,  son  of  Autopscot.    , 

Harry  Poritain,  alias  Beretan,  son  of  Masauquet. 

Isaac  Masauquet,  son  of  Harry  Poritain. 

AsKOMMOPOO,  daughter  of  Nicornoose  and  wife  of  Spotso 
or  Spoospotswa. 

Felix  Kuttashamaquah,  an  interpreter. 

Cain,  son  of  Saucoauso,  or  Jeptha. 

Abel,  son  of  Saucoauso  or  Jeptha. 

Ben  Abel,  son  of  Abel. 

Eben  Abel,  son  of  Abel. 

Jemima,  daughter  of  Cain,  and  wife  of  James  Shea. 

Pakapanessa,  Indian  associated  with  Nanahuma. 

Jonas  Kimmo,  Indian  associated  with  Nanahuma. 

Tequamomany,  sold  lands  to  English  in  1604. 

Mekowakim,  sold  lands  to  English  in  1604. 

Peteson,  a  complainer,  1667. 

Larry  Akkeramo,  a  complainer,  1667. 

Obadiah,  a  complainer,  1667. 

Wequakesuk,  a  sachem,  1673. 

Isaac  Wauwinet,  son  of  Nicornoose,  successor  of  father. 

Heattohanen,  another  name  for  one  of  Nicornoose's  sons. 

Wohwaninwot,  another  name  for  one  of  Nicornoose's  sons. 

Cowpohanet,  another  name  of  Nanahuma. 

Spotso,  son-in-law  of  Nicornoose,  signed  also  as  Spoos- 
potswa. 

Sasapana  Will,  sold  land  to  the  English,  1687. 

Henry  Britten,  sachem,  1701. 


50  Nantucket 

Eastor,  wife  of  Saucoauso,  1709. 

JosHiAH  or  Josiah,  son  of  Spotso. 

James  Shay,  Shea,  or  Shaa,  husband  of  Jemima. 

Esau  Cook,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1742. 

Isaac  Woosco,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1745. 

Samuel  Chegin,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1747. 

Titus  Zekey,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1762. 

John  Jethro,  a  descendant  of  Nicornoose. 

Abigail  Jethro,  a  descendant  of  Joshua  Jethro,  son  of 
Nicornoose. 

Jacob,  son  of  Potconet,  1672. 

Ahkeiman,  son  of  Potconet,  1676. 

Desire,  or  Desiah,  a  partner  of  Washaman  in  whales,  1676- 

Waquaheso,  related  to  Nicornoose. 

Wakeikman,  Sessanuquis,  Wienakisoo,  three  associated 
Indians,  1678. 

Nautakagin,  a  companion  of  Nanahuma,  1678. 

Quench,  an  Indian  who  divorced  his  wife,  1677. 

Mequash,  an  Indian  with  whaling  rights,  1678. 

Machoogen,  an  Indian  burglar,  1677. 

Debdekcoat,  a  fraudulent  creditor,  1677. 

Shaakerune,  an  anti-prohibitionist,  1677. 

Seikinow,  a  complainer,  1699-1700. 

Titus  Mamack,  Joshua  Mamack,  John  Mamack,  descend- 
ants of  Wanackmamack. 

JouAB,  descendant  of  Wanackmamack. 

John  Jouab,  a  disgruntled  complainer. 

Jonathan,  a  disgruntled  complainer. 

James  Asab,  a  disgruntled  complainer. 

John  Tashime  (Tashama),  a  descendant  of  Autopscot. 

John  Jethro,  a  petitioner. 

Paul  Jouab,  a  petitioner. 

Richard  Napanah,  a  petitioner. 

Solomon  Zachariah,  a  petitioner. 

Naubgrachas,  a  petitioner. 

Abel  Nanahoo,  a  petitioner. 

John  Asab,  a  petitioner. 


The  Aborigines  51 

Barnabas  Spotso,  sachem. 

James  Papamoo,  son  of  Barnabas  Spotso. 

John  Quass,  the  choice  of  Lakedon  Indians  for  sachem 
when  they  repudiated  Ben  Abel,  the  legitimate  chief. 

Sanchimaish,  a  witness  to  Isaac  Wauwinet's  will. 

Abram  Tashama,  son  of  John  Tashama,  1741. 

Old  Hannah,  a  witness. 

Ben  Jouab,  grandson  of  Pampason,  1752. 

Memfopooh,  a  messenger,  1752. 

OowAMASSEN,  a  witness  to  Isaac  Wauwinet's  will,  1670. 

Joshua  of  Chappoquiddick,  same  as  Joshua  Jethro,  eldest 
son  of  Nicornoose,  1706. 

Talagamomos,  Keostahhan,  Wumoanohquin,  Quaquah- 
CHOONiT,  witnesses  to  Nicornoose's  will,  1668. 

Ben  Joab  Pampushom,  a  claimant  to  sachemdom  of 
Occawa,  1745. 

Peter  Tuphouse,  witness  to  Pampushom's  petition. 

Peleg  Tuphouse,  witness  to  Pampushom's  petition. 

David  Pompasson,  said  to  have  been  a  grandson  of  Nicor- 
noose. 

Samuel  Humbrey,  a  witness  to  John  Jouab's  petition,  1752. 

Sarah  Nesfield,  a  squaw. 

W1LLLA.M  Cowkeeper. 

Jack  Never. 

Samcook. 

Tooth  Harry. 

Jobone. 

Nakatootanit. 

kuhapetaw. 

WOSOAK. 

Patience,  a  squaw. 

Nanespepo. 

Matakeken, 

cutuarum. 

Coshomadamon. 

Zachary. 

TOMASO. 


52  Nantucket 

ROAG. 

QuoQUASHA,  a  squaw. 

Waquaquenaway. 

Shanapetuck. 

Imqueness,  Sam,  Indian  magistrates. 

MOAB. 

Alewife. 

COOTAS. 

Damaris,  an  Indian  girl, 
Jasper, 
aspatchamo. 
Kessasum. 

"the    last    roll-call"    of  the    NANTUCKET    INDIANS 

(Copied  from  a  private  Indian  Register  hitherto 
unpublished.) 

Peter  Mica,  died  March  28,  1801. 

Sarah  Gutradge  (Goodridge),  died  April  22,  1801. 

Orra  Gethro  (Jethro),  died  June  14,  1799. 

Isaac  Tashmay  (Tashama),  died  November  i,  1801. 

Abigail  Wainer,  died  November  10,  1801. 

Abigail  Quary,  died  September  30,  1806. 

Mary  Squab,  died  June  28,  1807. 

Abigail  Job  (Jouab),  died  October  21,  1808. 

MoACA  Job  (Jouab),  died  May  7,  1809. 

Hannah  Joel,  died  August  27,  18 10. 

Abiah  Jeffrey,  died  October  12,  1810. 

Hannah  Foster,  died  July  26,  181 1. 

Sarah  Eeese,  died  February  16,  1812. 

Jemima  Tobey,  died  February  3,  1816. 

Mary  Abil,  died  July  21,  18 17. 

Eliza  Rose  (or  Ross),  died  January  22,  1818. 

Tabitha  Marsh,  died  March  8,  1820. 

Abigail  Jethro,  died  January  16,  1822. 

Sarah  Tashmay  (Tashama),  died  October  8,  1821. 

Molly  Morrells,  died  January  21,  181 7. 


Dorcas  Honorable 

The  last  pure-blooded  Nantucket  Indian 

Photograph  by  H.  S.  Wyer 


The  Aborigines  53 

Mary  Warracks,  died  July  29,  1794. 

Abigail  Taster  (or  Tastoo),  died  April  24,  1808. 

Betsy  Goodrich,  died  July  21,  1838,  aged  seventy-nine 

years. 
Esther  Keeter,  died  March  23,  1803. 
Venus,  died  December  14,  1789. 
Margaret  Hunter,  died  September  30,  1789. 
Indian  Girl,  died  November  17,  1784. 
Joseph  Tobey,  died  May  22,  1796. 
HuLDAH  Reefer,  died  September  30,  1797. 
Abram  Quary,  died  November  25,  1854,  aged  eighty-two 

years  and  ten  months. 
Darkis  Onerable  (Dorcas  Honorable),  died  Friday  night, 

January  12,  1855,  at  the  Asylum,  aged  seventy-nine 

years.     Buried   from   Baptist   Church. — The  last   of 

her  race ! 

Petty  crimes  and  misdemeanors  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians — too  often  caused  by  "  fire-water  " — frequently 
resulted  in  producing  considerable  trouble  and  annoy- 
ance to  the  proprietors.  When  the  latter  found  that 
the  imposition  of  fines  and  the  infliction  of  whipping 
in  graver  cases  were  inadequate  to  permanently  restrain 
them,  they  at  length  appointed  a  superior  Indian  to 
undertake  the  office  of  superintendent  and  local  magis- 
trate, and  with  considerable  success.  The  officer  ap- 
pointed was  James  Shouel,  better  known  as  Korduda, 
and  he  soon  became  a  terror  to  evildoers,  his  usual 
procedure  being,  when  one  Indian  complained  of  an- 
other, to  order  both  the  complainant  and  the  defendant 
to  be  well  whipped.  This  subsequently  became  known 
as  "Korduda's  law,"  and  in  many,  if  not  in  most  cases, 
it  was  found  very  effective.  He  was  also  in  the  habit  of 
having  deHnquents  whipped  for  neglecting  the  cultiva- 
tion of  their  com,  for  drunkenness,  etc. 


54  Nantucket 

A  few  other  special  Indians  are  referred  to  in  Zaccheus 
Macy's  well-known  letter,  viz. :  "  Old  ^sop, '  the  weaver, 
who  was  also  a  schoolmaster;  "Old  Saul,"  "a  stern- 
looking  old  man";  Richard  Nominash  and  his  brother 
Sampson  and  little  Jethro,  who  are  described  as  "very- 
substantial  and  very  trusty  men";  Zacchary  Hoite,  a 
minister  who  told  his  hearers  "they  must  do  as  he  said, 
but  not  as  he  did!"  There  were  also  some  members 
of  the  old  Hoight  and  Jafet  families,  and  Benjamin 
Tashama,  an  Indian  of  strong  individuality,  to  whom 
I  shall  now  refer  in  detail. 

Benjamin  Tashama,  or  Tashima,  was,  perhaps,  the 
most  noted  Indian  within  the  bounds  of  Autopscot, 
He  was  a  grandson  of  Sachem  Autopscot,  and  was 
distinguished  as  a  good  and  worthy  man,  an  esteemed 
preacher,  and  a  successful  schoolmaster. 

A  portion  of  the  industrious  life  of  Tashima  [says  the  author 
of  Miriam  Coffin]  had  been  devoted  to  study;  and  he  had 
succeeded,  with  infinite  labor,  in  adapting  his  literary 
acquirements  to  the  language  and  capacity  of  his  tribe. 
He  had  nourished  the  vain  hope  of  preserving  the  nation 
without  a  cross  in  its  blood,  and  the  language  of  his  people 
in  its  pristine  purity.  It  was  a  magnificent  conception! 
The  design  was  worthy  of  the  last,  as  he  was  the  greatest, 
chief  of  his  tribe.  He  was  the  last,  because  none  succeeded 
him;  he  was  the  greatest,  for  he  was  the  most  benevolent. 

While  few  details  of  his  life  are  known,  it  is  attested 
that  he  latterly  lived  on  the  eastern  boundary  of  Gibbs's 
Swamp,  about  forty  rods  northeast  of  the  fifth  mile- 
stone on  the  'Sconset  road.  Here,  some  years  ago,  the 
cellar  of  his  dwelling  still  remained,  and  the  large  stone 
which  formed  the  entrance  may  now  be  seen  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association. 


The  Aborigines  55 

Here  Tashama,  often  called  "the  last  sachem  of 
Nantucket,"  dwelt  with  his  son  Isaac  and  his  daughter 
Sarah.  Benjamin  Tashama  died  in  1770,  His  brother, 
John  Tashama,  was  alive  in  1754,  when  he  signed  a 
petition  to  the  Court.  John  had  one  son,  Abram, 
mentioned  by  John  CofP.n  and  Abishai  Folger  in  a 
report  dated  May  25,  1743. 

Sarah  Tashama  married  Isaac  Earop,  and  on  April 
27,  1776,  a  daughter  was  bom  to  them.  She  was 
named  Dorcas  Honorable.  When  this  child  grew  up, 
she  became  a  domestic  in  the  family  of  Mr.  John  Cart- 
wright,  where  she  lived  for  many  years,  and  she  died 
in  1855  at  the  asylum.  She  was  a  full-blooded  Indian, 
and  the  very  last  of  her  race  on  Nantucket;  and  thus, 
little  more  than  two  centuries  from  the  discovery  of  the 
island,  passed  away  the  only  remaining  one  of  the  aborig- 
inal people  who  had  dominated  it  from  time  immemorial. 

Abram  Api  Quady,  or  Quary,  a  half-breed,  who  lived 
in  a  hut  at  Shimmo  for  many  years,  died  on  November 
25,  1854,  ^^  the  age  of  eighty-two  years  and  ten  months, 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  the  son  of  the 
notorious  Quibby,  already  referred  to,  and  of  Judith 
Quary — a  half-breed  fortune-teller  well-known  on  the 
island  at  one  time.  Abram,  for  obvious  reasons,  chose 
to  assume  his  mother's  name.  A  fine  portrait  in  oil 
of  this  dignified  old  man  may  be  seen  in  the  Nantucket 
Atheneum. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  no  burial  place  of  the  Indi- 
ans has  been  discovered  on  the  island  of  Nantucket, 
so  far  as  I  am  aware.  Skeletal  remains  and  a  few 
bones  have  been  discovered  at  one  time  and  another, 
and  in  various  places,  but  I  believe  no  regular  place  of 
Indian  burial  has  ever  been  found.  This  may  be  thus 
accounted  for,  viz.: 


k 


56  Nantucket 

Island  Indians  usually  buried  their  dead  contiguous 
to  the  coast-line,  and  the  progressive  erosion  of  the 
coast  during  two  centuries  may  have  possibly  washed 
such  remains  into  the  ocean.  This  is  merely  a  sugges- 
tion, and  as  I  have  but  few  proofs  to  offer,  I  am  subject 
to  correction.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  Indi- 
ans buried  their  dead  in  the  neighborhood  of  Shawkemo, 
Pocomo,  Folger's  Hill  on  the  Polpis  road,  at  Quaise, 
beyond  the  present  water-works,  and  at  or  near  Mia- 
comet.  It  is  recorded  that  there  was  a  circular  burying- 
ground  for  one  of  the  tribes  near  the  headwaters  of 
Lake  Miacomet,  and  that  Benjamin  Tashama  was 
buried  there. 

An  opinion  too  generally  shared,  which  regards  the 
American  Indian  race  as  consisting  of  mere  savages, 
almost  inhuman  in  their  ferocity  and  cruelty,  and  with- 
out a  redeeming  feature  of  any  kind,  is  as  untrue  as  it 
is  unjust.  They  naturally  possessed  those  character- 
istics shared  by  all  unenlightened  races  of  men  who 
have  been  deprived  of  the  elevating  influences  of  civil- 
ization and  a  high  code  of  ethics,  but  a  careful  study 
of  their  lives  and  history  shows  that,  according  to  their 
enlightenment,  they  were  actuated  by  many  virtues 
which,  in  superior  races,  count  for  dignified  manhood 
and  nobility  of  mind.  In  personal  bravery  and  courage 
they  had  few  equals  and  yet  they  accepted  conquest 
or  punishment  with  a  sublime  fortitude  and  stoicism 
which  scorned  to  ask  for  either  life  or  pardon.  Equal- 
ity, freedom,  and  independence  constituted  the  very 
atmosphere  of  their  being  and,  in  their  dealings  with 
their  own  race,  the  rights  of  each  individual,  and  his 
personal  freedom,  were  universally  acknowledged. 
Judged  from  our  modem  standard  the  principles  of 
morality  which  governed  their  lives,  if  of  a  lower  order, 


Abram  Quary 
The  last  Nantucket  Indian  half-breed 
Photograph  by  H.  S.  Wyer~  "^ 


The  Aborigines  57 

were  yet  in  keeping  with  their  instincts  and  their  en- 
vironment, and  they  beHeved  that  "the  crimes  of  the 
vicious  were  punished  by  the  disgrace,  contempt,  and 
danger  they  ensured  for  transgressors." 

When  all  that  can  be  said  against  the  Indians  has 
been  spoken,  it  must  be  conceded  that  they  embodied 
a  pure  and  lofty  patriotism,  for  which  they  fought  and 
died  like  men  and  true  patriots,  and  although  they 
had  to  gradually  yield  up  their  possessions  and  their 
homes  in  the  land  they  loved,  and  to  recede  and  dis- 
appear before  the  advancing  wave  of  civilization,  yet, 
as  De  Forest  says:  "We  may  drop  a  tear  over  the 
grave  of  the  race  which  has  perished,  and  regret  that 
civilization  and  Christianity  have  ever  accomplished 
so  little  for  its  amelioration." 

In  the  somewhat  severe  words  of  Obed  Macy,  "Their 
only  misfortune  was  their  connection  with  Christians, 
and  their  only  crime  the  imitation  of  their  manners." 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  WHITE  SETTLERS  AND  THE  SETTLEMENT 

The  purchase  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  in  1659, 
and  its  subsequent  occupation  by  the  white  settlers 
form  an  interesting  section  of  Massachusetts  history, 
upon  which  much  has  been  written.  From  time  im- 
memorial the  island  had  been  inhabited  by  the  abo- 
rigines of  the  country,  and  was  therefore  in  a  primitive 
and  uncultivated  condition  when  the  settlers  arrived. 
It  has  been  alleged  that  their  motive  in  selecting  such 
an  insular  wilderness  as  a  colony  was  to  escape  from 
religious  persecution  in  their  old  home  across  the  ocean, 
but  such  allegations  have  not  been  sustained  by  either 
fact  or  history,  and  are  now  utterly  discredited. 
There  cannot  be  any  doubt  that,  mayhap  associated  to 
some  extent  with  a  spirit  of  adventure,  their  chief 
motive  was  really  nothing  more  or  less  than  a  business 
speculation.  That  they  were  worthy,  brave,  and 
fearless  men  cannot  be  gainsaid,  and,  as  Englishmen, 
they  had  manifestly  inherited  the  grit  and  endurance 
which  characterize  their  race.  Then  they  were  doubt- 
less impelled  by  duty  to  themselves  and  to  their  fami- 
lies, and  not  fear  of  persecution — golden  opportunities 
and  radiant  possibilities — which  had  led  them  out  of 
their   ancient   homes   to   a   new   and   unknown   land. 

58 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  59 

They  had  seen  a  vision  of  hope,  freedom,  and  opportu- 
nity beckoning  them  to  a  Httle  island  in  the  ocean 
where  the  white  man's  foot  had  seldom  trod,  an  island 
unknown,  uncultivated,  a  wilderness  teeming  with  the 
hosts  of  a  barbaric  and  uncivilized  race.  Yet  they 
never  hesitated.  Taking  their  lives  in  their  hands, 
and  with  a  humble  yet  sublime  trust  in  God,  they 
arrived  in  safety, — dug  their  new  homes  in  the  hill- 
sides, wrought  like  men,  and  prospered  accordingly. 

Numbering  nineteen  persons  all  told, — a  number 
increased  to  twenty-seven  later, — these  men  became  the 
proprietors  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  divided  and 
cultivated  the  land,  and  lived  with  the  aborigines  in 
peace  and  amity.  In  less  than  a  hundred  years  from 
its  inception  in  1690,  the  whaling  industry  in  Nan- 
tucket port  became  the  largest  and  most  famous  in  the 
world. 

Not  only  one,  but  many  volumes  would  be  necessary 
to  chronicle  the  experiences  and  achievements  of  these 
worthy  men  and  their  successors,  but  here  a  faint 
biographical  outline  of  some  of  them  is  all  that  space 
will  permit. 

Facile  princeps  was  Tristram  Coffin,  a  man  of 
ancient  lineage,  a  strong  will,  and  dominant  person- 
ality whose  activities  in  many  directions  ensured  the 
success  of  the  settlement.  He  was  bom  at  Brixton, 
Devonshire,  England,  in  1605,  and  married,  in  or 
about  1630,  Dionis  Stevens,  of  the  same  place.  Im- 
pelled by  a  desire,  which  was  very  prevalent  at  the  time, 
to  visit  the  New  World,  and  to  found  new  plantations 
there  on  an  agricultural  and  stock-raising  basis,  in  1642, 
when  he  was  thirty-seven  years  old,  he  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  wife,  five  small  children,  his  widowed 
mother,   and   two  unmarried   sisters.     Until    1659,   he 


6o  Nantucket 

lived  alternately  in  Salisbury,  Haverhill,  and  Newbury, 
Mass.  In  that  year,  he  came  to  Nantucket,  and  made 
arrangements  for  the  purchase  of  the  island  by  a  com- 
pany which  he  organized  at  Salisbury.  He  returned 
to  the  island  with  part  of  his  family  in  1660,'  and  there 
he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  October  3, 
1 68 1,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

During  his  entire  residence  on  Nantucket  he  resided 
near  Capaum,  and  for  the  most  part  at  a  house  which 
he  built,  and  named  "Northam."  The  interests  which 
he  and  his  sons  and  sons-in-law  represented  gave  him 
power  to  control  to  a  large  extent  the  enterprises  of 
the  island.  ^ 

He  was  appointed  Chief  Magistrate  of  Nantucket 
by  Governor  Andros  in  1667,  and  again  by  Governor 
Lovelace  on  June  29,  1671. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Folger,  speaking  of  Tristram 
Coffin's  relation  to  the  Indians,  says: 

The  Christian  character  which  he  exhibited,  and  which  he 
practically  illustrated  in  all  the  varied  circumstances  and 
conditions  of  that  infant  colony  is  analogous  to  that  which 
subsequently  distinguished  the  founder  of  Pennsylvania, 
so  that  the  spirit  of  the  one  seemed  to  be  but  the  counterpart 
of  the  other. 

The  names  of  more  than  twelve  thousand  descend- 
ants of  Tristram  Coffin  can  be  traced.  The  ramifica- 
tions of  the  family  extend  to  England,  to  all  the  British 
dominions,  and  to  every  State  of  the  Union.  ^ 

Indeed  the  Coffin  family  furnishes  an  exceptionally 
good  illustration  of  the  persistence  of  fecundity,  for 

'  Hinchman. 

'  Lije  0/  Tristram  Coffin,  Allen  Coffin,  LL.B.,  p.  32. 

3  Nantucket  Inquirer  and  Mirror,  July  22,  1826. 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  6i 

Tristram  Coffin,  Sr.,  had  seven  children,  Peter,  his 
eldest  son,  had  nine,  Tristram,  Jr.,  had  ten,  and  left 
177  descendants,  James  had  fourteen,  John  had  eleven, 
and  Stephen  had  ten,  Tristram's  two  daughters, 
Mary  Starbuck  and  Elizabeth  Greenleaf,  each  had 
ten  children,  a  total  of  seventy-one  children  in  his  own 
immediate  family ! 

Thomas  Macy,  often  described  as  "the  first  settler," 
was  a  native  of  Chilmark,  Wiltshire,  England.  It  is 
stated  that  he  embarked  for  America  "probably  in  1635, 
but  not  later  than  1639."  He  occupied  a  good  posi- 
tion in  the  old  country,  where  he  was  much  respected 
and  prominent.  Macy's  History  says:  "He  lived  in 
Salisbury  in  good  repute  for  twenty  years,  and  acquired 
a  good  interest,  consisting  of  a  tract  of  land,  a  good 
house,  and  considerable  stock." 

The  allegation  that  he  was  compelled  to  leave  Salis- 
bury, Essex  Co.,  Mass.,  on  account  of  having  harbored 
Quakers,  is  entirely  fictional.  He  was,  however,  along 
with  a  number  of  others,  fined  ten  shillings^  for  "en- 
tertaining Quakers,"  in  contravention  of  a  law  that 
was  then  in  force.  Furthermore  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket had  been  purchased  and  deeded  before  the 
charge  was  made,  and  Macy  had  returned  to  Salisbury 
to  settle  his  affairs,  and  was  actually  living  there  in 
1664.  In  addition  to  this,  in  a  letter  written  by  Joshua 
Coffin,  the  historian,  in  1831,  he  says: 

Thomas  Macy  was  a  merchant,  an  enlightened  man,  and 
much  too  wise  to  apprehend  any  danger  to  his  person  or 
property  from  any  person  or  persons  either  legally  or  ille- 
gally. He  was  certainly  a  man  of  fortitude,  courage,  good 
sense,  and  education. 

'  Joshua  Coffin,  quoted  by  Allen  Coffin,  LL.B.,  opus  cit.,  p.  26. 


62  Nantucket 

During  the  time  he  spent  on  the  island,  1659-61, 
Macy  propitiated  the  Indians,  and  opened  up  negotia- 
tions with  them  on  behalf  of  the  other  settlers.  He 
probably  lived  with  Edward  Starbuck,  who  had  built 
a  house  at  Madeket.  From  1661  he  lived  at  Capaum 
Pond,  near  Tristram  Coffin. 

Later  his  services  on  the  island  were  highly  appre- 
ciated. He  was  the  first  Recorder  on  the  island  and, 
in  1675,  was  appointed  Chief  Magistrate.  He  died  at 
Nantucket,  on  April  19,  1682,  aged  seventy-five  years. 

Edward  Starbuck  emigrated  from  Derbyshire, 
England,  in  1635,  and  settled  at  Dover,  N.  H.  It  is 
stated  that  it  was  at  Macy's  suggestion  that  he  left 
Dover  for  Nantucket.  However  this  may  be,  it  is 
an  established  fact  that  he  accompanied  Macy,  with 
his  family,  Isaac  Coleman,  and  James  CofBn  on  their 
historic  voyage  to  the  island,  which  was  accomplished 
in  an  open  boat.  Starbuck  was  a  man  in  easy,  if  not 
affluent,  circumstances  who  had  attained  a  high  posi- 
tion at  Dover  and  an  equally  exalted  reputation  for 
worth  and  probity.  He  is  also  represented  as  having 
been  "an  active,  enterprising  man,  fearless  of  danger." 
In  1660,  it  is  said  that  he  returned  to  the  mainland 
where  his  representations  regarding  the  island  induced 
some  eight  or  ten  families  to  remove  from  Salisbury 
to  Nantucket,  thus  adding  to  the  number  in  the  little 
settlement. 

Edward  Starbuck  was  one  of  the  associate  members 
of  the  proprietary  of  the  island,  and  he  witnessed  the 
sachems'  deed  confirming  the  sale  of  the  island  to  the 
original  purchasers.  His  wife  was  Miss  Katharine 
Reynolds,  and  their  son  Nathaniel  married  Mary 
Coffin,  the  seventh  child  of  Tristram,  who  was  "uni- 
versally acknowledged  to  have  been  a  great  woman." 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  63 

It  is  recorded  that  Edward  Starbuck  died  on  June  12, 
1690,  aged  eighty-six  years.  From  his  son  Nathaniel, 
and  his  wife  Mary,  daughter  of  Tristram  Coffin,  have 
sprung  all  the  Starbucks  in  America. 

Peter  Folger,  one  of  the  eariy  settlers,  was,  in 
many  ways,  a  very  remarkable  man.  A  native  of 
Norwich,  England,  where  he  was  bom  in,  or  about,  161 7, 
he  fell  in  love  with  Mary  Morrell,  who  was  sailing  in 
the  same  ship,  and  married  her  soon  after  their  arrival 
in  1635.  Peter's  father  and  mother  accompanied  him 
to  America.  His  father,  John,  had  married  Meribah 
Gibbs,  in  England.  He  died  in  Martha's  Vineyard  in 
1660;  she  died  in  1663. 

For  a  time  Peter  and  his  wife  lived  in  Watertown 
but  removed  to  Martha's  Vineyard  in  1660.  Here  he 
became  acquainted  with  the  Mayhews,  and  acted  as 
their  surveyor,  while  he  also  discharged  the  duties  of 
pedagogue.  He  became  proficient  in  speaking  the 
language  of  the  Indians  on  the  Vineyard,  and  in  acting 
as  an  interpreter  for  those  who  did  not  understand  it. 
In  1658,  he  visited  Nantucket  (in  all  likelihood  accom- 
panied by  Tristram  Coffin)  for  the  purpose  of  inspect- 
ing the  island,  and,  in  1663,  returned  there  in  order  to 
become  a  permanent  resident. 

He  later  became  the  most  useful  man  on  the  island 
of  Nantucket  as,  in  addition  to  a  large  store  of  general 
knowledge  which  he  had  accumulated,  there  was  little 
in  the  way  of  handicraft  to  which  he  could  not  turn  his 
skill.  Not  only  was  he  a  surveyor  but  had  officiated 
as  preacher  and  as  schoolmaster;  he  was  an  excellent 
clerk,  and  ultimately  became  keeper  of  the  records  on 
the  island;  moreover  he  interpreted  the  Indian  lan- 
guage when  required,  was  betimes  an  author  and  a  poet, 
and  acted  as  miller,  blacksmith,  and  weaver  for  the 


64  Nantucket 

settlers.  His  son  Eleazer  was  appointed  shoemaker  to 
the  settlement,  and  Peter  himself  was  constituted  a 
half-shareholder  with  all  the  privileges  that  pertain 
to  such  a  relationship.  He  died  in  1690,  and  his  de- 
scendants, numbering  not  a  few  distinguished  men  and 
women,  inherited  from  this  grand  old  settler  the  gifts 
and  versatility  which  he  possessed  in  such  marked 
degree. 

His  daughter  Abiah,  the  only  child  of  his  that  was 
born  in  Nantucket,  became  the  mother  of  Benjamin 
Franklin. 

Another  distinguished  man  must  be  alluded  to  who, 
although  not  one  of  the  original  settlers,  was  persuaded, 
in  1672,  to  cast  his  lot  among  them  by  the  offer  of  a 
share  of  land  to  enable  him  "  to  carry  on  the  cod-fishing 
business."  His  name  was  John  Gardner,  a  brother  of 
Richard  Gardner  who,  since  1666,  had  been  located  in 
Nantucket.     John  had  a  family  of  twelve  children. 

From  his  advent  he  became  prominent  in  all  the 
affairs  that  concerned  the  welfare  of  the  island,  and  was 
undoubtedly  the  most  capable  man  among  the  English 
settlers.  His  administrative  power  was  little  short  of 
genius,  and  he  thrice  attained,  in  defiance  of  the  fiercest 
opposition,  the  office  of  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  island. 
Ultimately  he  secured  Governor  Dongan's  patent, 
which  made  him,  with  six  associates,  "One  Body  Cor- 
porate and  Politiq  to  be  called  by  the  Name  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  Freeholders  and  Comonality"  of  Nan- 
tucket. The  keenest  rivalry  for  leadership  on  the 
island  was  generated  between  Tristram  Coffin  and  John 
Gardner,  and  for  several  years  it  pervaded  opposing 
sections  of  the  people.  Although  Gardner  was  success- 
ful in  the  end,  peace  reigned  betw^een  the  rival  chiefs 
at  last,  and  Tristram,  doughty  old  warrior  though  he 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  65 

was,  before  his  death  forgave  Gardner,  and  alluded  to 
him  as  his  "loving  neighbor." 

A  tie  of  friendship  was  also  strengthened  between 
the  two  families  by  the  marriage  which  took  place  in 
1686,  between  Jethro  Coffin,  the  grandson  of  Tristram, 
and  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Captain  John  Gardner.   • 

In  1699,  Gardner  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate, 
an  office  which  he  held  until  his  death.  Bom  in  Dor- 
setshire, England,  in  1624,  he  died  in  Nantucket  in 
1706,  aged  eighty-two  years.  He  was  buried  in  the 
Forefathers'  burying-ground,  east  of  Maxcy's  Pond. 

Christopher  Hussey,  the  son  of  John  Hussey  and 
Mary  Wood,  was  born  in  Dorking,  Surrey,  England. 
During  his  earlier  years  he  resided  for  some  time  in 
Holland  where  he  fell  in  love  with  Theodate,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Batchilder.  When,  in  due  time, 
he  proposed  to  her,  her  father  would  only  give  his  con- 
sent to  the  alliance  on  condition  that  they  should  both 
accompany  him  to  America,  which  they  ultimately 
agreed  to  do,  arriving  in  Boston  on  the  ship  William  and 
Francis,  in  1632. 

Christopher  Hussey  became  one  of  the  original  set- 
tlers in  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  and  from  1636 
went  through  the  various  grades  of  promotion  until, 
finally,  he  was  elected  as  one  of  the  Selectmen.  In  1639 
he  was  made  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  holding  the  office 
for  several  years;  later  he  was  appointed  Town  Clerk, 
and  one  of  the  first  deacons  of  the  church.  In  1659, 
he  became  one  of  the  purchasers  of  Nantucket.  Later 
on  he  pursued  the  occupation  of  sea-captain. 

From  the  evidence  of  Joshua  Coffin  and  the  Town 
Records  of  Hampton,  N.  H,,  there  can  be  little  doubt 
that  he  died  on  March  6th,  and  was  buried  at  Hamp- 
ton, March  8,  1686.     Although  he  was  not  one  of  the 


66  Nantucket 

resident  or  active  settlers  of  Nantucket,  his  eldest  son, 
Stephen,  to  some  extent  made  up  for  his  deficiencies 
by  residing  in  Nantucket,  and  by  marrying  a  fair 
Nantucketer,  Martha  Bunker,  on  October  8,  1676. 
Stephen  died  on  the  island  on  February  2,  171 8,  in 
his  eighty-eighth  year,  leaving  seven  children. 

Stephen  Greenleaf  was  the  son  of  Edmund  Green- 
leaf  who  came  to  America  in  1635,  and  settled  at  New- 
buryport,  Mass.  Stephen  was  bom  in  1630  and  married 
Elizabeth  Coffin,  daughter  of  Tristram  and  Dionis 
Coffin. 

"He  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Nantucket, 
and  authority  says,  'a  religious  man.'"  He  was  a 
soldier  by  profession  and  had  had  considerable  experi- 
ence in  the  Indian  wars.  He  was  Ensign  and  Lieutenant 
in  1686,  and  Captain  in  1690.  He  was  also  represent- 
ative to  the  General  Court  in  1676,  a  commissioned 
magistrate  and  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  a  deacon  over- 
seer, in  Newbury,  in  1686,  and  in  1689  was  appointed 
as  a  consultant  "for  the  conservation  of  the  peace  of 
the  Country." 

In  1689  he  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  compen- 
sation for  repulsing  an  Indian  raid,  in  which  he  was 
severely  wounded,  and  it  was  directed  that  forty 
pounds  should  be  paid  to  him  "out  of  the  treasury  of 
the  Province." 

Stephen  Greenleaf,  with  nine  others,  was  wrecked 
and  drowned  off  Cape  Breton,  December  i,  1690. 

Little  is  known  of  Robert  Pike  beyond  the  fact  that 
he  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Nantucket, — 
that  he  shared  the  interest  of  Christopher  Hussey  as 
one  of  the  proprietors,  and  that  he  was  a  warm  friend 
of  Thomas  Macy.  He  was  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court  in   1648-49,  and  in   1658-59;  Captain 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  67 

and  Major  in  1670;  an  Assistant  in  1682,  and  a  member 
of  the  Council  of  Safety  in  1689.  He  was  actively 
associated  with  the  settlers  of  the  island  "until  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  forty  years  after  the 
purchase." 

Thomas  Coleman  probably  came  to  reside  in  Nan- 
tucket previous  to  1673,  as  it  is  recorded  that  during 
October  of  that  year  he  was  "drawn  on  the  jury." 
His  name  appears  with  that  of  Christopher  Hussey 
and  others  in  a  list  of  settlers  of  Hampton,  N.  H. 

Thomas  and  Robert  Barnard  are  said  to  have  come 
to  America  about  1650.  Thomas  was  one  of  those  who 
in  1659  purchased  Nantucket.  He  transferred  half  of 
his  holding  to  his  brother  Robert.  "Thomas  died 
abroad,"  but  Robert  came  to  Nantucket  in  1663,  and 
died  there  in  1682.  He  had  a  son,  John  Barnard,  bom 
in  1642,  who  married  Bethiah  Folger,  daughter  of 
Peter  Folger,  and  a  daughter  Mary,  who  married  her 
cousin  Nathaniel  Barnard,  son  of  Thomas  and  Eleanor 
Barnard. 

Richard  Swain  came  to  Nantucket  with  his  second 
wife  and  family.  He  had  previously  lived  at  Hampton, 
N.  H.,  where  he  settled  after  his  arrival  in  America,  in 
1635.  His  second  wife  was  Jane,  the  widow  of  George 
Bunker,  whom  he  had  married  in  1658.  "John,  the 
son  of  his  first  wife,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Nathan- 
iel Wier."     Richard  Swain,  Sr.,  died  in  1682. 

John  Swain,  the  original  settler,  son  of  Richard, 
resided  near  Hummock  Pond,  and  ultimately  at  Polpis. 
His  house  was  standing  until  1902,  when  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  lightning.     He  died  in  171 7.' 

'  For  a  few  of  the  previous  biographical  sketches  the  writer  is  indebted 
to  Mrs.  Hinchman's  Early  Settlers  in  Nantucket,  to  which  he  has  had 
access  through  her  courtesy. 


68  Nantucket 

THE  SETTLEMENT 

The  story  of  the  transfer  of  the  island  of  Nantucket 
from  the  EngHsh  Government  to  Thomas  Mayhew, 
and  from  him  and  the  Indians  to  the  white  settlers, 
has  so  often  been  told  that  a  mere  summary  is  all  that 
is  required  here,  in  order  to  preserve  the  continuity 
of  the  narrative. 

Nantucket  was  included  in  the  royal  grant  to  Ply- 
mouth Company  in  1621,  and  Lord  Stirling  and  Sir 
Ferdinand  Gorges  were  the  Commissioners  deputed 
to  promote  the  colonization  of  the  territory,  including 
the  islands  south  of  Cape  Cod. 

Lord  Stirling  appointed  James  Forrett  as  his  agent 
in  New  York  for  the  sale  or  other  disposal  of  the  colony, 
and  Forrett  sold  the  island  of  Nantucket,  in  1641 
(when  it  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Province  of 
New  York),  to  Thomas  Mayhew,  an  Englishman,  who 
emigrated  to  New  England  in  1631,  and  who  first 
settled  at  Watertown.  Mayhew  not  only  purchased 
Nantucket,  and  the  adjacent  islands,  but  became  a 
part  proprietor  of  Martha's  Vineyard  and  Governor 
of  that  island.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  good  colonizer 
— always  a  friend  to  the  Indians,  and  was  the  means 
of  preventing  them  from  engaging  in  Philip's  war.  He 
founded  Edgartown  in  1647,  and  from  him  were  de- 
scended numerous  missionaries  to  the  Indians,  amongst 
whom  they  had  much  influence,  and  spoke  the  Indian 
language  fluently. 

The  islands  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  May- 
hews  (father  and  son),  imtil  1659,  when  they  were 
transferred  to  ten  purchasers,  including  Mayhew  him- 
self (as  he  reserved  to  himself  and  his  heirs  one 
twentieth  part  of  the  property  for  his  own  use). 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  69 

From  a  reliable  genealogy  of  the  Coffin  family'  it 

appears  that  in  the  spring  of  1659  Tristram  CofRn  pro- 
ceeded upon  a  voyage  of  inquiry  and  observation — first 
to  Martha's  Vineyard  where  he  secured  Peter  Folger,  the 
grandfather  of  Benjamin  FrankHn,  as  an  interpreter  of  the 
Indian  language;  and  thence  to  Nantucket,  his  object  being 
to  ascertain  the  temper  and  disposition  of  the  Indians,  and 
the  capabilities  of  the  island,  so  that  he  might  report  to 
the  citizens  of  Salisbury  what  inducements  for  emigration 
thither  were  offered. 

He  was  evidently  impressed  favorably  by  what  he 
saw  and  heard,  for,  when  he  returned  to  Sahsbury, 
Mass.,  a  company  was  formed,  and  the  purchase  of 
the  island  determined.  In  the  autumn  of  1659  Thomas 
Macy,  Edward  Starbuck,  James  Coffin,  Isaac  Coleman, 
and  some  of  their  wives  and  children  sailed  in  an  open 
boat  for  Nantucket,  where  they  arrived  safely,  and 
spent  the  winter  of  1659-60  on  the  island  at  Madeket. 

In  July,  1660,  Starbuck  returned  to  Salisbury  and 
Amesbury,  and  induced  a  number  of  families  to  accom- 
pany him  back  to  Nantucket,  and  as  time  went  on  the 
little  colony  received  numerous  additions,  ^ 

Each  of  the  original  colonists  was  permitted  to  name 
an  associate,  so  that  the  island  was  primarily  divided  into 
twenty  shares,  and  as  the  colonists  were  anxious  to  add 
to  their  number,  and  to  induce  artisans  and  mechanics 
to  come  among  them,  the  number  of  shares  was  ulti- 
mately increased  to  twenty-seven,  these  including  the 
entire  island,  with  the  exception  of  the  "common" 
land,  and  that  reserved  by  Mr.  Mayhew  for  his  own  use. 

'  Vide  Godfrey's  Island  of  Nantucket,  p.  169. 

=  Most,  if  not  all,  of  the  English  settlers  came  from  Salisbury,  Mass., 
and  its  neighborhood. 


70  Nantucket 

The  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  at  Salis- 
bury on  the  26.  day  of  February,  1659,  i^i  order  to  take 
in  their  partners.  First,  the  partner  of  Thomas  May- 
hew  was  John  Smith;  of  Tristram  Coffin,  Nathaniel 
Starbuck;  of  Thomas  Macy,  Edward  Starbuck;  of 
Richard  Swain,  Thomas  Look;  of  Thomas  Barnard, 
Robert  Barnard;  of  Peter  Coffin,  James  Coffin;  of 
Christopher  Hussey,  Robert  Pike;  of  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
Tristram  Coffin,  Jr.;  of  John  Swain,  Thomas  Coleman. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  above-named  persons  agreed 
to  have  ten  other  partners,  who  should  each  have  half 
as  much  land  as  they  themselves,  called  for  that  reason 
half -share  men.  They  also  agreed  that  John  Bishop 
should  have  two  of  the  said  half-shares.  After  they  came 
to  Nantucket  they  granted  the  following  rights:  To 
Thomas  Macy  one  half -share  in  the  year  1663.  To 
Richard  Gardner  two  half- shares  in  1666;  to  Joseph 
Gardner  one  half -share,  in  1667;  to  Joseph  Coleman 
one  half-share  in  1665;  to  William  Worth  two  half- 
shares  in  1662;  to  John  Gardner  two  half- shares  in 
1672;  to  Samuel  Stretor  one  half-share  in  1669;  to 
Nathaniel  Wier  "one  half  of  a  sort  of  a  poor  one"  in 
1667.  In  the  aggregate  these  shares  and  fractions  of 
shares  were  equivalent  to  twenty-seven  whole  shares. 

Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew's  Deed  of  Sale  is  as  follows: 

Copy  of  Deed  of  Nantucket  to  Nine  Purchasers 
(dated  July  2,  1659) 

Recorded  for  M^  Coffin  and  M^  Macy  afores'',  ye  Day 
and  Year  afores^ 

Be  it  known  unto  all  men  by  these  Presents  that  I, 
Thomas  May  hew  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  Merchant,  doe 
hereby  acknowledge  that  I  have  sould  unto  Tristram  Coffin, 
Thomas    Macy,    Christopher    Hussey,    Richard    Swayne, 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  71 

Thomas  Bernard,  Peter  Coffin,  Stephen  Greenleafe,  John 
Swayne,  and  WiUiam  Pike  that  Right  and  Interest  I  have 
in  ye  Land  of  Nantuckett  by  Patent :  ye  w'^'^  Right  I  bought 
of  James  Forrett,  Gent,  and  Steward  to  ye  Lord  Sterling 
and  of  Richard  Vines,  sometimes  of  Sacho,  Gent.,  Steward- 
Gen®'^  unto  Sir  Georges  Knight  as  by  Conveyances  under 
their  Hands  and  Scales  doe  appeare,  ffor  them  ye  aforesaid 
to  Injoy,  and  their  Heyres  and  Assignes  forever  w*^  all 
the  Privileges  thereunto  belonging,  for  in  consideration  of 
ye  Sume  of  Thirty  Pounds  of  Current  Pay  unto  whomsoever 
I  ye  said  Thomas  May  hew,  mine  Heyres  or  Assignes  shall 
appoint. 

And  also  two  Beaver  Hatts  one  for  myself  and  one  for  my 
wife. 

And  further  this  is  to  declare  that  I  the  said  Thomas 
Mayhew  have  received  to  myself  that  Neck  upon  Nan- 
tucket called  Masquetuck  or  that  Neck  of  Land  called  Nash- 
ayte  the  Neck  (but  one)  northerly  of  Masquetuck  ye 
aforesaid  Sayle  in  anywise  notwithstanding. 

And  further,  I  ye  said  Thomas  Mayhew  am  to  beare 
my  Part  of  the  Charge  of  ye  said  Purchase  above 
named,  and  to  hold  one  twentieth  Part  of  all  Lands 
purchased  already,  or  shall  be  hereafter  purchased  upon 
ye  said  Island  by  ye  afores'^  Purchas"  or  Heyres  or 
Assignes  forever. 

Briefly:  It  is  thus:  That  I  really  sold  all  my  Patent  to 
y*'  aforesaid  nine  men  and  they  are  to  pay  mee  or  whom- 
soever I  shall  appoint  them,  ye  sume  of  Thirty  Pounds  in 
good  Marchantable  Pay  in  ye  Massachusetts,  under  w'^^ 
Governm*  they  now  Inhabit,  and  2  Beaver  Hatts,  and  I 
am  to  beare  a  20*^  Part  of  ye  Charge  of  y®  Purchase,  and 
to  have  a  20*^  Part  of  all  Lands  and  Privileges;  and 
to  have  w^''  of  ye  Necks  afors'^  that  I  will  myselfe, 
paying  for  it;  only  ye  Purchasers  are  to  pay  what  ye 
Sachem  is  to  have  for  Masquetuck,  although  I  have 
y®  other  Neck. 

And  in  witness  hereof  I  have  hereunto  sett  my  Hand 


72  Nantucket 

and  Seale  this  second  Day  of  July  sixteen  hundred  and 
fifty  nine — (1659) 

Per  me 
Tho.  Mayhew. 
Witness:  John  Smith 

Edward  Searle. 

Before  the  legal  purchase  of  the  island  could  be  rati- 
fied, it  was  necessary  to  secure  the  sanction  of  the  repre- 
sentative Indian  chiefs  and  this  was  duly  obtained  as 
appears  from  the  following  deed,  dated  May  10,  1660: 

Sachems^  Deed  of  Nantucket 

These  presents  witness,  May  the  tenth,  sixteen  hundred 
and  sixty,  that  we,  Wanackmamack  and  Nickanoose,  head 
Sachems  of  Nantucket  island,  do  give,  grant,  bargain,  and 
sell  unto  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew  of  Marthas  Vine3^ard, 
Tristram  Coffin,  Senior,  Thomas  Macy,  Christopher  Hussey, 
Richard  Swain,  Peter  Coffin,  Stephen  Greenleaf,  Thomas 
Barnard,  John  Swain  and  William  Pile,  all  the  Land, 
Meadow,  Marshes,  Timber  and  Wood,  and  all  appurte- 
nances thereunto  belonging,  and  being  and  lying  from  the 
west  end  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  unto  the  Pond,  called 
by  the  Indians,  Waqutuquab,  and  from  the  head  of  that 
Pond,  upon  a  straight  line,  unto  the  Pond  situated  by 
Monomoy  Harbor  or  Creek,  now  called  Wheeler's  Creek, 
and  so  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  said  Pond  to  the 
sea,  that  is  to  say,  all  the  right  that  we,  the  aforesaid 
Sachems  have  in  the  said  tract  of  land,  provided  that  none 
of  the  Indian  Inhabitants,  in  or  about  the  woodland,  or 
whatsoever  Indians,  within  the  last  purchase  of  land,  from 
the  head  of  the  Pond  to  Monomoy  Harbor,  shall  be  removed 
without  full  satisfaction.  And  we,  the  aforesaid  Sachems, 
do  give,  grant,  bargain  and  sell,  the  one-half  of  the  remain- 
der of  the  meadows  and  marshes  upon  all  other  parts  of 
the  Island.     And  also  that  the  English  people  shall  have 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  73 

what  grass  they  shall  need  for  to  mow,  out  of  the  remainder 
of  the  meadows  and  marshes  on  the  Island,  so  long  as  the 
English  remain  upon  the  Island,  and  also  free  liberty  for 
timber  and  wood  upon  any  part  of  the  Island  within  the 
jurisdiction.  And  also,  we,  the  aforesaid  Sachems,  do 
full  grant  free  liberty  to  the  English  for  the  feeding  all 
sorts  of  cattle  on  any  part  of  the  Island,  after  Indian  Har- 
vest is  ended  until  planting  time,  or  until  the  first  day  of 
.May,  from  year  to  year  forever,  for  and  in  consideration 
of  twelve  pounds  already  paid,  and  fourteen  pounds  to  be 
paid  within  three  months  after  the  date  hereof. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  purchase  of  land,  and 
other  appurtenances,  as  aforementioned,  to  them,  Mr. 
Thomas  Macy,  Tristram  Coffin,  Thomas  Mayhew,  and  the 
rest  aforementioned,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  the  said  Sachems,  have  hereunto 
set  our  hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year  above  written. 
The  sign  of  Wanackmamack  [S] 
The  sign  of  Nickanoose  [SI 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered,  in  the  presence  of  us 
Peter  Folger, 
Felix  Kuttashamaquat, 
Edward  Starbuck. 
I  do  witness  this  deed  to  be  a  true  deed,  according  to 
the  interpretation  of  Felix  the  interpreter;  also  I  heard 
Wanackmamack,  but  two  weeks  ago,  say  that  the  sale  made 
by  Nickanoose  and  he  should  be  good,  and  that  they  would 
do  so,  whatever  comes  of  it. 

Witness  my  hand,  this  17th  day  of  first  month,  1664. 

Peter  Folger. 
Witness:  Mary  Starbuck. 
The  mark  of  John  (I.  C.)  Coffin. 

Wanackmamack  and  Nickanoose  acknowledge  the  above 
written  to  be  their  act  and  deed,  in  the  presence  of  the 
General  Court,  this  12th  of  June,  1667,  as  attest. 

Matthew  Mayhew, 
Secretary  to  the  General  Court. 


74  Nantucket 

It  is  rather  curious  that  this  deed,  although  duly 
witnessed  on  May  lo,  1660,  was  not  confirmed  by 
Peter  Folger  until  January  i,  1664,  and  did  not  receive 
official  attestation  by  the  Secretary  to  the  General 
Court  until  the  12th  of  June,  1667. 

This  deed  purchased  the  island  from  the  original 
patentee  and  a  greater  part  of  it  from  the  Indians,  and 
the  English  are  said  to  have  paid  twenty-six  pounds 
for  it.  Almost  a  year  before  the  execution  of  the  above 
deed,  however,  what  is  known  as  "The  First  Indian 
Deed"  was  executed  by  Nickanoose  and  Nanahuma 
on  June  20,  1859.     It  is  as  follows: 

This  doth  witness  that  we  Nickanoose  of  Nantucket, 
Sachem,  and  Nanahuma  of  Nantucket,  Sachem,  have  sold 
unto  Thomas  Mayhew  of  the  Vineyard  the  plain  at  the 
west  end  of  Nantucket  that  is  according  to  the  figure 
under  written,  to  him  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 
In  consideration  whereof  we  have  received  by  earnest  of 
the  said  Thomas  Mayhew  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds.  Also 
the  said  Sachems  have  sold  the  said  Mayhew  of  the  Vine- 
yard the  use  of  the  meadow  and  to  take  wood  for  the  use 
of  him,  the  said  Mayhew,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  hereof,  we  the  Sachems  aforesaid  have  here- 
unto set  our  hands  this  20th  of  June,  1659. 

The  said  Acamy  lyeth  north  and  by  east,  and  south  by  west 

or  near  it. 

Nickanoose,  X  (his  mark.) 
Nanahuma,     X  (his  mark.) 
Witness  hereunto: 
Mr.  Harry, 
John  Coleman, 
Thomas  Macy, 
Tristram  Coffin. 

During  the  next  hundred  years — say  from  1664  to 
1774 — the  records  contain  the  many  transfers  of  lots 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  75 

of  land  deeded  by  the  Indians  to  the  English,  until, 
indeed,  the  entire  island  became  the  property  of  the 
white  settlers. 

As  an  example  of  further  deeds  the  following  may  be 
quoted. 

January  5,  1660,  Nickanoose  out  of  free  voluntary 
love  for  Edward  Starbuck  gave  him  "Coretue,"  which 
was  reassigned  by  Edward  Starbuck,  August  30,  1668. 

June  22,  1662,  Wanackmamack  signed  a  deed  con- 
veying a  neck  of  land  in  the  eastern  section  of  the 
island  known  as  Pocomo  Neck.  This  was  witnessed 
by  the  younger  Wauwinet,  son  of  Nickanoose,  and  by 
Peter  Folger.  The  purchase  was  made  by  Tristram 
Coffin  and  Thomas  Macy. 

February  20,  1661,  Wanackmamack,  head  sachem, 
sold  the  west  half  of  Nantucket. 

November  18,  1671,  shows  that  Tristram  Coffin 
bought  of  Wanackmamack  and  Nicomoose  from  Mono- 
moy  to  Waquittaquage  Pond,  Nanahumack  Neck,  and 
all  from  Wesco  to  the  west  end  of  Nantucket. 

June  20,  1682,  deed  of  Nicomoose,  sachem,  to 
James  Coffin,  William  Worth,  and  John  Swain — the 
grass  and  herbage  of  all  his  lands  from  Indian  harvest 
to  first  of  May. 

And  thus  the  land  sales  go  on,  until  1774,  when  the 
sachems  and  Indians  had  virtually  sold  every  spot  in 
their  possession  to  the  English. 

As  Mr.  H.  B.  Worth  aptly  points  out, 

Nickanoose  signed  deeds  only  of  territory  belonging  to 
some  other  sachem;  the  fact  is  true  of  Wanackmamack. 
Neither  signed  a  deed  of  any  portion  of  the  territory  under 
his  direct  control.  The  sachem  Attapehat  (Autopscot), 
as  far  as  has  been  found  never  signed  any  deed. 


76  Nantucket 

These  facts  may  be  accounted  for  by  assuming  that 
these  chief  sachems  thought  it  beneath  their  dignity 
to  sign  deeds  conveying  their  own  property  while  at 
the  same  time  they  permitted  no  deeds  to  be  signed 
without  their  approval  and  attestation.  This  may 
appear  a  lame  suggestion,  but  it  is  the  best  the  writer 
can  offer. 

The  Provincial  Governor  of  New  York  in  1671 
(Lovelace)  thought  it  desirable  to  obtain  a  new  deed 
from  the  sachems,  attesting  the  legality  of  the  land 
sales,  and  an  assurance  that  the  stipulated  terms  had 
been  duly  complied  with,  before  issuing  a  new  patent. 
The  necessary  proofs  were  furnished  in  that  year  by 
Wanackmamack  the  chief  sachem. 

The  number  of  settlers  who  had  arrived  from  Salis- 
bury in  1660  and  1661  soon  began  to  make  themselves 
comfortable  in  their  new  and  strange  environment, 
while  the  Indians  could  not  but  admire  the  novel  type 
of  dwelling  houses  which  the  newcomers  had  set  up 
in  strange  contrast  with  the  humble  wigwams  of  the 
aborigines;  indeed  the  new  procedure  which  was  being 
introduced  in  many  directions  must  have  caused  them 
much  surprise. 

For  a  time  the  English  and  the  Indians — the  civilized 
and  the  uncivilized — worked  together  amicably  for  the 
agricultural  development  of  the  island.  Together  they 
cleared  and  tilled  the  land  (for  the  most  part  existing 
as  a  primeval  wilderness),  settling  the  allotments,  cut- 
ting down  the  timber,  which  is  said  to  have  almost 
covered  the  island,  and  mutually  performing  the  nu- 
merous farming  operations  involved  in  the  reclama- 
tion and  cultivation  of  the  soil.  In  addition  to  farming 
they  engaged  also  in  fishing,  in  which  art  the  natives 
were  expert.     Much  time  was  also  devoted  to  the  rais- 


The  White  Settlers  and  the  Settlement  ']'] 

ing  of  sheep,  and  thus  while  mutual  forbearance  was 
exercised,  mutual  trust  was  generated,  and  while  the 
settlers  acted  faithfully  and  justly  with  the  Indians, 
the  latter  were  equally  loyal  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duties  in  their  new  relationships. 

What  has  been  written  thus  far  will,  it  is  hoped, 
serve  to  illustrate  the  conditions  under  which  the 
white  settlers  became  established  on  Nantucket. 

It  may  be  noted  that  the  names  of  many  of  the  origi- 
nal white  settlers  are  perpetuated  in  teeming  numbers 
among  the  inhabitants  of  Nantucket  until  the  present 
day. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  EARLY  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  ISLAND 

When  the  Indians  found  that  the  white  men  had 
come  among  them  for  peaceful  purposes  and  not  for 
warfare  or  to  take  advantage  of  them,  they  received 
the  settlers  kindly  and  with  every  assurance  of  friend- 
ship and  help  that  they  could  offer.  They  were  willing 
to  work  for  them,  or  to  sell  their  lands  on  fair  terms, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  settlers  dealt  fairly  with 
them,  and  claimed  nothing  for  which  they  were  not 
willing  to  pay — making  no  bargains  that  were  not 
strictly  in  accordance  with  the  law,  and  not  even  deny- 
ing the  red  men  permission  to  utilize  part  of  the  lands 
which  had  been  purchased  from  them,  when  these 
lands  were  required  for  family  purposes. 

Notwithstanding  much  that  has  been  written  to  the 
contrary,  the  Indians  gave  little  or  no  dissatisfaction, 
nor  did  they  prove  in  any  way  troublesome  until  the 
demon  rum  was  introduced  among  them  by  the  settlers 
themselves.  From  that  hour  they  began  to  degenerate, 
and  it  was  the  main  cause  of  nearly  all  their  disaffection 
and  misconduct,  contributing  in  no  small  degree  to 
their  ultimate  extinction  on  the  island,  as  elsewhere. 

That  Tristram  Coffin  was  a  leading  spirit  in  the 
development  of  the  island  will  be  generally  conceded 

78 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   79 

as  the  statement  is  supported  by  history  and  tradition ; 
and  that  his  strong  personaHty  gave  him  a  controlHng 
influence  in  almost  every  direction  cannot  be  gainsaid. 
Towards  the  Indians  he  exercised  a  uniform  kindliness 
which  was  almost  paternal,  and  they  soon  learned  to 
know,  to  esteem,  and  to  trust  him.  In  his  relations 
with  his  fellow-settlers,  although  self-willed,  and  some- 
times obdurate,  he  was,  nevertheless,  conscientious  in 
the  discharge  of  every  duty,  as  well  as  being  kind- 
hearted,  worthy,  and  reliable. 

The  first  care  of  the  settlers  on  their  arrival  was  to 
provide  shelters  for  themselves  and  their  families. 
This  they  succeeded  in  doing  by  digging  cellars  on  the 
hillsides,  or  by  building  log  cabins,  which  served  every 
immediate  purpose.  They  had  also  to  examine  the 
general  conditions  existing  on  the  island,  to  provide  a 
water  supply,  and  to  clear  and  divide  the  land  for  culti- 
vation. In  these  various  endeavors  they  received 
valuable  help  from  the  Indians. 

In  accordance  with  a  plan  which  some  of  the  settlers 
had  previously  inaugurated  in  Salisbury,  they  resolved 
to  divide  the  island  into  twenty-seven  shares, — one  for 
each  original  proprietor,  reserving  a  certain  adequate 
portion  for  house-lots,  and  a  large  area  for  common  or 
undivided  land.  When  Mayhew  sold  the  island,  he 
reserved  for  his  own  private  use  about  370  acres  at 
Quaise.  The  entire  area  of  the  island,  when  surveyed 
in  1813,  was  29,380  acres,  from  which  were  subtracted 
10,993  acres  and  69  rods  as  common  land,  leaving 
18,387  acres  and  22  rods  to  be  divided  and  laid  out 
between  1659  and  1821.' 

The  subdivision  of  shares  into  what  was  called  Cows' 
Commons  was  somewhat  complex,  but  I  quote    the 

'  O.  Macy,  History  of  Nantucket,  p.  24. 


8o  Nantucket 

following  explanation  from  a  masterly  report  by  the 
late  William  Hussey  Macy,  which  renders  the  subject 
easily  intelligible: 

A  sheep  common,  as  used  by  the  early  settlers,  signified 
as  much  land  as  would  furnish  commonage  or  pasturage 
for  a  sheep.  Its  original  equivalent  seems  to  have  been 
an  acre  and  a  half  of  land.  In  the  olden  time  all  the  land, 
except  such  pieces  as  were  set  aside  for  homesteads,  and 
designated  as  "house-lot  land,"  was  held  in  common  by 
the  twenty-seven  original  proprietors.  Estimating,  the 
whole  extent  of  available  land  in  round  numbers  at  about 
29,000  acres,  each  man's  share  would  be  720  commons  for 
sheep.  The  product  of  720  x  27  =  19,440,  which  represents 
the  whole  number  of  sheep  commons  at  the  outset.  When 
at  a  later  period  certain  large  tracts  of  land  were  laid  out 
to  form  "divisions,"  and  designated  by  names  such  as 
"Squam,"  "Southeast  Quarter,"  "Smooth  Hummocks," 
etc.,  each  division  was  divided  into  twenty-seven  shares  as 
nearly  equal  in  size  as  the  nature  of  the  case  would  admit, 
— quality  and  quantity  considered.  When  these  divisions 
were  laid  out,  the  number  of  proprietors  was  no  longer 
twenty-seven,  as  it  was  constantly  increasing  by  inherit- 
ance, as  well  as  by  bargain  and  sale,  and  few  individuals 
could  claim  a  whole  share  in  any  one  of  the  divisions;  but 
each  share  was  supposed  to  contain  seven  hundred  and 
twenty  undivided  parts,  and  each  landowner  owned  the 
same  fractional  interest  in  one  of  these  shares  as  in  a  full 
share  of  all  the  common  lands.  Lots  were  then  drawn  to 
determine  in  what  particular  share  of  the  new  division 
each  man's  interest  should  fall.  The  share  might  contain 
one  acre  or  it  might  contain  fifty  acres,  according  to  the 
extent  of  the  division  laid  out;  but  720  was  the  constant 
denominator,  and  a  man  who  owned,  say,  forty-five  sheep 
commons  of  the  original  land,  or  more  correctly  ^^4To  of 
the  common  land,  would  also  be  the  owner  of  7^0,  undivided, 
of  a  certain  "share  in  Southeast  Quarter";  of  a  certain 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   8i 

other  "share  in  Squam,"  and  so  on  in  the  several  divisions 
as  they  were  successively  laid  out.  All  the  land  of  the  island, 
excepting  house-lot  land,  was  owned  in  this  manner,  whether 
used  for  planting  or  stocking  purposes, — the  several  pro- 
prietors of  each  share  holding  it  in  common  and  undivided, 
and  buying  and  selling  only  undivided  fractional  interests. 
The  lands  so  laid  out  in  divisions  were  known  by  the  name 
of  "dividend  lands." 

The  proprietors  formed  themselves  into  an  organization 
under  the  name  of  "The  Proprietors  of  the  Common  and 
Undivided  Lands  of  Nantucket,"  held  meetings,  and  kept 
records  of  their  own,  distinct  from  the  records  of  deeds. 

For  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  down  into  the 
beginning  of  the  last  century,  all  the  land  of  the  island — 
aside  from  the  house-lot  land — was  thus  owned  in  common, 
and  the  proprietors  steadily  refused  to  set  off  any  one 
person's  interest  to  him  in  severalty. 

But  these  fetters  were  soon  broken  by  Obed.  Mitchell 
and  a  few  others,  who,  being  large  proprietors,  desired  to 
obtain  a  title  in  severalty  to  the  district  known  as  Plainfield, 
lying  north  of  the  village  of  Siasconset,  and  containing 
some  two  thousand  acres.  Failing  in  their  efforts  at  the 
proprietors'  meetings,  they  carried  the  case  to  the  courts, 
and  after  several  years  of  litigation  they  gained  their  point, 
and  others  followed  their  example  with  similar  results. 

In  1 82 1  several  tracts  were  laid  out  and  apportioned 
under  the  names  of  Smooth  Hummocks,  Trott's  Hills, 
Head  of  the  Plains,  and  others,  and  these  are  often  spoken 
of  as  the  new  "divisions." 

By  the  great  set-off  to  Obed.  Mitchell  and  others,  the 
number  of  sheep  commons  had  been  reduced  from  19,440 
to  17,172 ;  and  although  there  were  still  twenty-seven  shares 
in  each  division  as  before,  the  constant  denominator  was 
changed  from  720  to  636.  The  owner  of  2-0  part  of  an  original 
share  of  land — provided  no  part  of  his  interest  had  been 
sold — would  own  (or  rather  his  heirs  would  own) — when 
this  statement  was  made  in  1 882 — thirty-six  sheep  commons 

6 


82  Nantucket 

in  the  common  and  undivided  lands,  with  thirty-six  sheep 
commons  (meaning  thirty-six  undivided  720th  parts)  of  a 
certain  share  in  each  of  the  old  divisions,  as  Squam,  South- 
east Quarter,  etc.,  as  also  thirty-six  sheep  commons  (mean- 
ing thirty-six  undivided  636th  parts)  in  some  certain  share 
of  each  of  the  new  divisions,  as  Smooth  Hummocks,  Trott's 
Hills,  etc.  It  was  possible  to  buy  and  sell  these  interests 
in  the  "dividend  lands"  separate  from  the  interest  in  the 
common  land,  and  thus  a  proprietor  who  bought  out  all 
his  co-tenants  would  own  an  entire  share  defined  by  certain 
specific  boundary  lines. 

A  sheep  common,  then,  signified,  19,440  of  all  the  common 
land  on  the  island.  The  original  idea  was  an  acre  and  a 
half  of  land ;  but,  as  the  term  is  now  used,  it  indicates  nothing 
definite,  either  in  area  or  value,  but  means  simply  a  certain 
undivided  fractional  part  of  a  very  uncertain  something 
else,  until  the  whole  circumstances  of  each  particular  are 
investigated. 

As  soon  as  a  division  was  laid  out  and  drawn  in  shares, 
the  proprietors  as  an  organization,  ceased  to  have  any  control 
of  it.  If  the  owner  of  any  portion  of  a  share  desired  to  hold 
his  part  in  severalty  he  must  make  a  formal  application  to 
the  judicial  courts,  which  would  appoint  commissioners  to 
set  off  his  portion;  and  many  good  titles  have  thus  been 
secured.  But  in  many  cases  where  an  undivided  interest  has 
remained  in  the  same  family  for  three  or  four  generations, 
it  has  become  so  subdivided  and  split  up  by  inheritance 
that  it  is  practically  impossible  for  a  would-be  pur- 
chaser to  find  all  the  present  owners,  and  secure  a  perfect 
title  by  deed.  ...  By  a  gradual  process  of  cancellation 
or  absorption  the  whole  number  of  sheep  commons  is  now 
brought  down  to  comparatively  few,  and  the  quantity  of 
common  land  remaining  is  very  much  reduced.  The  greater 
part  of  the  remaining  commons  are  now  in  a  few  hands, 
while  a  small  number  of  them  have  been  quite  lost  sight  of 
by  the  process  of  infinitesimal  subdivision  caused  by  death 
and  inheritance. 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   83 

According  to  the  records,  the  first  sheep-shearing 
took  place  in  1696.  The  western  shear-pen  was  near 
Maxcy's  Pond,  and  the  eastern  near  Gibbs's  Pond. 
The  last  shearing  took  place  near  Miacomet,  in  1847. 

It  may  be  mentioned  incidentally  that  in  1775  the 
flocks  numbered  over  15,000  head. 

As  to  the  settlers'  farming  operations: 

The  proprietors  commonly  plant  about  twenty-five  acres 
of  corn  to  a  share,  which  are  675  acres  for  the  twenty-seven 
shares  which  are  in  one  field,  and  will  produce  on  an  average 
twelve  bushels  to  the  acre:  that  number  multiplied  by  675 
gives  8100  bushels.  The  next  year  the  same  land  is  sowed 
with  rye  and  oats;  about  eighty-one  acres  with  rye.  The 
produce,  about  six  bushels  to  an  acre,  is  486  bushels.  The 
remainder,  594  acres,  is  sowed  with  oats,  which  produces 
about  fourteen  bushels  to  an  acre — that  is,  8316  bushels. 
On  the  private  farms  there  are  about  200  acres  planted 
with  corn  which  will  yield  twenty  bushels  to  the  acre 
and  as  many  acres  for  rye  and  oats. 

In  addition  to  the  commons  there  were,  as  Zaccheus 
Macy  points  out,  various  other  portions  of  land,  swamps 
and  salt-meadows,  which  w^ere  divided  among  the 
shareholders  in  proportion  to  their  shares,  and  these 
were  utilized,  as  a  rule,  for  house-lots,  mowing  land, 
and  pastures.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  settlers 
found  the  cultivation  of  the  land  sufficiently  remuner- 
ative, and  that  it  eventually  enabled  them  to  enjoy 
competence  and  prosperity.  But  times  have  changed, 
and  we  have  changed  with  them! 

Farming,  however,  did  not  altogether  monopolize 
their  time,  for  the  surrotmding  ocean  teemed  with 
almost  ever}^  variety  of  fish,  and  during  intervals  of 
labor  the  settlers  were  able  to  supply  their  households 
and  to  find  recreation  in  the  process;  besides,  the  island 


84  Nantucket 

contained  an  abundance  of  wild-fowl  and  small  game, 
which  contributed  materially  to  their  food  resources. 

The  population  was  gradually  increasing  and  indus- 
trial pursuits  were  soon  organized,  thus  affording 
employment  to  artisans,  while  adding  to  the  successful 
development  of  the  settlement. 

The  first  grist-mill  built  by  the  English  was  erected 
in  1666  or  1667  at  Lily  Pond,  which,  at  that  time  is  said 
to  have  covered  three  acres.  Peter  Folger  was  placed 
in  charge,  but  the  bursting  of  the  dam  seems  to  have 
put  the  mill  out  of  commission.  About  1676,  the  second 
mill,  a  fulling  mill,  was  installed  in  its  place,  with  Peter 
Folger  once  more  as  manager.  Subsequently  four  grist- 
mills were  built  and  operated  on  the  mill-hills,  and  are 
said  to  have  been  kept  running  until  1822.  The  first, 
having  become  useless,  was  blown  up  in  1836,  in  order 
"to  prove  the  practicability  of  blowing  up  buildings  in 
case  of  fire."  Another  was  destroyed  by  lightning  in 
1817;  a  third  was  taken  down  in  1873,  one  of  the  mill- 
stones being  used  as  part  of  the  foiindation  to  the 
Soldiers'  Monument.  The  fourth  grist-mill  was  erected 
in  1746,  and  still  remains  on  its  ancient  eminence  to 
tell  of  Nantucket's  quondam  enterprise.  It  commands 
a  magnificent  view  of  the  surrounding  island.  From 
1723  to  1875  there  were  no  less  than  twelve  mills  oper- 
ated upon  the  island.  Some  were  worked  by  wind,  some 
by  water;  some  of  them  were  grist-mills  and  others  fulHng 
mills,  and  they  were  placed  in  various  positions  through- 
out the  island,  tending  much  to  its  prosperity,  and  giving 
employment  directly  or  indirectly  to  many  workers.^ 

'  Those  interested  in  the  subject  of  Nantucket  mills  will  find  many 
interesting  details  in  Mrs.  Eva  C.  G.  Folger's  volume,  The  Glacier's  Gift, 
to  which  the  writer  wishes  to  express  many  obligations.  Vide  Chapter 
XIX  in  this  volume. 


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The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   85 

While  cereal  and  textile  industries  were  thus  inau- 
gurated and  developed,  the  islanders  had  to  select 
their  house-lots,  and  build  their  residences.  Some 
writers  have  asserted  that  the  earliest  settlers,  includ- 
ing Thomas  Macy,  built  their  houses  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  Madeket,  but  this  is  undoubtedly"  an 
error,  as  there  is  not  a  shred  of  evidence  to  support  the 
statement  beyond  the  fact  that  Edward  Starbuck  had 
built  a  house  at  Madeket,  and  that  Macy  resided  with 
him  during  their  first  winter  on  the  island.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  a  matter  of  established  history  that 
Tristram  Coffin  made  his  first  home  near  Capaum  Pond 
(where  he  resided  until  his  death),  and  that  Thomas 
Macy  had  his  house-lot  laid  out  to  the  eastward  of 
Tristram  Coffin's  near  the  Wannacomet  Pond,  in  1661. 
It  was,  indeed,  in  this  locality  that  the  first  village  was 
located,  viz:  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hummock  Pond, 
and  to  the  south  and  east  of  Capaum  Pond.  In  a  few 
instances  the  places  where  some  of  the  houses  stood  are 
still  indicated  by  the  remains  of  brick  cellars,  especially 
in  the  vicinity  of  Reed  Pond,  where  it  is  believed  Thomas 
Macy's  residence  was  located. 

At  a  meeting  held  at  Wannacomet,  July  15,  1661,  of 
the  owners  or  purchasers  residing  there,  it  was  agreed 
that  each  man  should  have  liberty  to  choose  his  house- 
lot  within  the  limits  not  previously  occupied,  and  that 
each  house-lot  "shall  contain  sixty  rods  square  to  a 
whole  share." 

As  far  back  as  1642,  the  Mayhews,  father  and  son, 
had  been  trying  to  convert  the  Indians  to  Christianity, 
but  it  is  not  generally  known  that  the  first  house  of 
worship  erected  on  the  island  was  built  for  the  Indians 
in  1674,  that  in  this  year  they  had  thirty  devout  com- 
municants,   and,    at    least,    three    meeting-houses    in 


86  Nantucket 

different  parts  of  the  island,  viz:  at  Miacomet,  at 
Polpis,  and  at  Occawa  now  known  as  Plainfield, — 
where  every  Sunday,  and  sometimes  during  the  week, 
three  hundred  of  the  natives  were  in  the  habit  of  attend- 
ing service.  John  Gibbs,  whose  Indian  name  was 
Assassamoogh  (whom  King  Philip  previously  sought 
on  the  island,  1665),  was  sent  to  Harvard  by  Mr.  May- 
hew,  and,  when  he  was  sufficiently  educated,  he  served 
as  a  preacher  to  the  Nantucket  and  Vineyard  Indians 
for  twenty-five  years.  Pastor  Gibbs  was  assisted  by 
three  "praying  Indians,"  Joseph,  Samuel,  and  Caleb, — 
the  last  a  sachem's  son,  whose  Indian  name  was  Wee- 
kochisit. 

This  part  of  the  history  of  the  island  has  not  hitherto 
received  the  attention  it  deserves.  The  noble  efforts 
of  the  Mayhew  family  to  Christianize  the  aborigines 
are  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation,  and  should 
never  be  forgotten. ' 

The  first  church,  town-house,  and  jail  were,  it  is 
generally  believed,  built  on  the  road  represented  by  the 
present  West  Center  and  Chester  Streets  a  little  to 
the  north  of  No-Bottom  Pond,  and  approximately 
half  a  mile  west  from  where  West  Center  joins  Liberty 
Street. 

A  tradition  exists  that  the  "first  church"  was 
identical  with  the  building  now  known  as  "the  old 
North  Vestry,"  which  was  moved  to  Beacon  Hill, 
Nantucket,  in  1765,  first  placed  where  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  now  stands  and  eventually,  in  1834, 
removed  to  its  present  position  at  the  rear  of  the  church. 
Built  of  island-timber  it  may  have  been  (although  even 

'  Many  and  ample  details  will  be  found  in  Mr.  Experience  Mayhew 's 
attractive  book  entitled  Indian  Converts,  and  in  a  valuable  addendum 
to  that  work  by  Mr.  Thomas  Prince. 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   87 

this  is  problematical),  but  not  in  171 1,  as  indicated  by 
an  inscription  on  its  gable-end.  That  it  was  brought 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  "first  church"  there  can  be 
little  doubt,  but  the  following,  extract  from  Judge 
Lynde's  Diary,  dated  at  Nantucket  in  June,  1732, 
when  he  was  visiting  the  island,  shows  pretty  clearly 
that  it  could  not  have  been  the  first  church:  "Lord's 
Day,  June  nth;  Mr.  White  preached  very  well  at  the 
new-built  Presbyterian  Meeting-housed  This  should 
be  enough  to  disprove  the  allegation  that  it  was  the 
original  church  of  the  settlers;  but,  in  addition,  a  careful 
examination  of  the  building  itself,  fortified  by  expert 
opinion,  proves  unquestionably  that,  although  prob- 
ably built  some  years  before  its  removal,  it  could  not 
have  been  erected  in  171 1,  nor  for  perhaps  twenty  years 
thereafter. 

That  the  Presbyterians  had  an  earlier  meeting-house, 
which  was  existent  in  1725,  is  evident  from  the  town 
having  issued  an  order  to  have  one  of  its  official  notices 
"placed  on  the  door  of  both  meeting-houses,"  but  as 
to  what  was  done  with  it,  or  what  became  of  it,  there 
is  not  a  vestige  of  proof  to  show. 

There  is  no  evidence  to  show  that  any  regular  church 
establishment  was  in  existence  before  the  arrival  of 
Timothy  White,  in  1725;  nor  had  any  minister  been 
appointed  to  the  charge  before  that  year.  In  the 
Timothy  White  Papers,''  however,  it  is  suggested  that 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  temporarily  visiting  the  island 
occasionally  held  religious  services  and  ministered  to 
the  spiritual  needs  of  the  people. 

On  May  9,  1725,  Mr.  Timothy  White  notes  that  he 
"began  preaching  the  Gospel  at  Nantucket,"  and  this 
is  the  first  authentic  record.     Mr.  White,  although  he 

'  Page  13,  footnote. 


88  Nantucket 

had  been  educated  at  Harvard,  was  not  an  ordained 
minister,  but  had  been  appointed  by  a  religious  society 
to  serve  as  the  superintendent  of  religious  work  among 
the  Nantucket  Indians,  and  as  a  private  school-teacher. 
Later  he  became  minister  of  the  congregation  of  the 
first  little  church.  The  first  record  of  the  administra- 
tion of  baptism  is  made  on  September  29,  1728,  by 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Baxter  of  Medfield,  and  "at  that  time 
a  Covenant  is  owned." 

Mr.  White  was  appointed  minister  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian meeting-house  at  Nantucket  in  or  about  1732, 
and  it  is  almost  certain  that  no  church  organization 
existed  among  the  whites  until  that  year  or  thereabout. 
Mr.  White  surrendered  his  charge  in  1750,  and  there 
is  no  record  of  any  minister  having  succeeded  him  until 
1 76 1.  "Since  that  date  the  roll  of  Pastors  of  the 
first  Congregational  Church  has  never  been  incom- 
plete."^ There  was  formerly  a  tower  on  the  old  Con- 
gregational Church,  now  known  as  the  "Old  North 
Vestry." 

Much  collateral  testimony  tends  to  prove  that  the 
education  of  their  children  was  not  neglected  by  the 
settlers,  although  no  public  schools  were  probably 
erected  before  1827.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
Quakers  had  schools  from  an  early  period,  and  that 
there  were,  contemporaneously,  private  schools  for 
pupils  of  various  ages,  supported  by  the  general  com- 
munity. It  is  a  matter  of  record  that,  as  early  as  171 6, 
Eleazer  Folger  was  engaged  as  schoolmaster  at  the 
rate  of  "three  pounds  current  money  to  keep  school 
one  year";  and  from  1725  to  1750,  Mr.  Timothy  White 
acted  as  a  private-school  teacher  as  well  as  a  mission- 

'  Dudley's  Churches  and  Pastors  of  Nantucket,  p.  20,  and  Timothy 
White  Papers. 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   89 

ary  and  a  minister.  Many  private  schools  existed  from 
1800  to  1827. 

There  is  not  a  word  in  the  Town  or  Land  Records 
to  indicate  where  the  town-house  and  jail  were  placed 
prior  to  1 716.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  original 
meeting-house,  jail,  and  town-house  occupied  contiguous 
sites,  but  however  probable  this  may  have  been,  there 
are  no  known  facts  to  sustain  the  allegation.  Allusions 
are  made  in  the  records  referring  to  these  three  institu- 
tions, records  of  orders  for  their  erection,  for  repairs, 
etc.,  but  not  in  a  single  instance  is  there  any  reference 
to  the  locality  in  which  the  buildings  themselves  were 
situated. 

In  1 7 16  it  was  voted  that  a  town-house  should  be 
erected  and  here  the  location  is  sufficiently  indicated 
to  surmise  that  it  was  built  on  the  south  side  of  West 
Center  Street,  north  of  No-Bottom  Pond.  This  is 
precisely  the  situation  which  tradition  has  always 
assigned  to  the  three  original  institutions  now  under 
discussion,  but  no  proof  is  offered  as  to  whether  they 
were  erected  here  or  not ;  and  even  in  this  instance 
there  is  not  a  word  about  either  the  original  jail  or 
meeting-house  having  been  placed  in  or  near  the  same 
vicinity. 

In  1783,  the  town-house  erected  in  17 16  was  moved 
to  the  comer  of  Milk  and  Main  Streets,  where  it  stood 
for  many  years. 

As  to  the  location  of  the  old  jail,  no  facts  are  forth- 
coming. There  is  a  record  to  the  effect  that,  in  1748, 
the  town  voted  to  sell  "the  old  prison  at  Wesko  to 
William  Swain."  Twenty  years  later  it  was  voted  "to 
repair  the  old  prison,  and  build  a  new  one  near  it." 

The  town  built  a  workhouse  thirty  feet  long  and 
sixteen  feet  wide  in  1770.     Later  "the  workhouse  and 


90  Nantucket 

the  new  poor-house  were  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by 
the  jail."' 

Judging  from  an  inscription  on  the  building,  the 
present  jail  in  Vestal  Street  may  have  been  erected  in 

1775- 

In  1665,  the  redoubtable  King  Philip  visited  the  island, 
bringing  with  him  a  number  of  natives  in  canoes.  The 
alleged  object  of  his  visit  was  to  find  an  Indian  who 
had  committed  the  unspeakable  crime  of  having  men- 
tioned the  name  of  Philip's  dead  father!  Philip  finally 
found  his  Indian  culprit,  and  the  whites  at  once  offered 
to  purchase  his  liberty;  but  the  sum  asked  by  Philip 
was  exorbitant,  and  beyond  their  means.  However, 
they  actually  gave  him  all  they  could  afford,  viz:  £11, 
which  he  immediately  appropriated.  After  some  bar- 
gaining, Philip  remaining  obdurate,  the  settlers  at 
last  became  angry,  and  threatened  that,  if  he  and  his 
braves  did  not  leave  the  island  immediately,  they  would 
rally  the  inhabitants.  The  result  was  that  Philip 
became  alarmed,  and  left  the  island  at  once,  leaving  his 
prisoner  (John  Gibbs  alias  Assassamoogh)  unmolested. 

Civil  government  was  instituted  on  the  island  and 
the  town  incorporated  in  1671,  when  Tristram  Coffin 
was  appointed  Chief  Magistrate,  with  two  assistants 
under  him,  and  with  Mr.  Mayhew,  of  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, and  his  two  assistants,  they  constituted  a  General 
Court  with  appellate  jurisdiction  over  both  islands, 
under  the  Governor  and  Council  of  New  York. 

In  1672  the  first  Selectmen  were  appointed.  The 
Board  comprised  Edward  Starbuck,  John  Swain,  John 
Gardner,  Peter  Coffin,  and  William  Worth.  In  1673 
Captain  John  Gardner  was  appointed  Captain  of  the 
Military  Company  for  the  defense  of  the  island. 

'  H.  Barnard  Worth,  Nantucket  Lands  and  Landowners. 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   91 

It  was  in  1673,  also,  that  the  name  Sherburne  was 
bestowed  upon  the  Httle  township  of  settlers  by  Gover- 
nor Lovelace  of  New  York  Province,  under  the  juris- 
diction of  which  the  island  was  at  this  time;  but  in 
1693,  it  was  once  more  ceded  to  the  Province  of  Mas- 
sachusetts by  special  act  of  King  William  III  arid  Mary. 

Shore- whaling  also  commenced  in  1673. 

Captain  John  Gardner  was  appointed  Chief  Magis- 
trate by  Governor  Andros  in  1680.  Tristram  Coffin 
died  in  October,  1681. 

In  or  about  1700  the  little  harbor  of  Capaum  was 
turned  into  a  pond  by  a  great  storm  which  blocked  the 
entrance,  and  cut  the  harbor  off  completely  from  the 
ocean  as  it  remains  to  this  day.  The  islanders  were 
thus  obviously  placed  at  a  great  disadvantage  for  want 
of  harbor  accommodation,  but  evidently  hesitated  to 
repair  their  misfortune  by  immediate  removal.  They 
had  been  centred  in  the  neighborhood  of  Wannacomet 
for  many  years,  and  were  apparently  well-satisfied 
with  the  locality  they  had  selected  until  a  catastrophe 
happened  which  was  beyond  their  control,  and  under 
all  the  circumstances  they  doubtless  felt  that,  in  many 
ways,  their  interests  would  suffer  by  an  immediate 
removal.  Be  this  as  it  may,  when  they  found  that 
increasing  prosperity  would  eventually  force  them  to 
seek  a  new  township  with  larger  and  more  permanent 
harbor  accommodation,  they  at  length  selected  Wesko, 
— now  Nantucket — for  their  future  dwelling  place. 
The  exodus  was  accomplished  in  or  about  1720. 

The  new  center  commended  itself  in  every  way. 
Extensive  building  operations  were  carried  on,  and 
soon  the  town  was  flourishing  apace. 

The  outlook  of  the  settlers  about  this  time  was  hope- 
ful in  the  extreme,  and  the  attractions  of  the  island  were 


92  Nantucket 

being  noised  abroad.  The  inhabitants  were  increasing 
rapidly;  artisans  and  mechanics  had  come  among  the 
islanders  in  sufficient  numbers  to  ensure  the  skillful 
execution  of  handicraft  in  its  various  branches,  and 
the  settlers  had  added  to  their  resources  by  engaging 
in  cod -fishing,  in  which  the  red  men  were  as  proficient 
as  the  whites.  A  little  later,  having  observed  many 
whales  disporting  themselves  about  the  island,  the 
settlers  resolved  to  capture  some  of  these  leviathans  of 
the  deep,  and  to  turn  them  to  their  own  advantage. 
They  secured  expert  help  in  order  to  learn  the  best 
modes  of  killing  whales,  and  extracting  their  oil,  and 
Macy  tells  us  that  "the  pursuit  of  whales  commenced 
in  boats  from  the  shore,  and  increased  from  year  to 
year,  till  it  became  the  principal  branch  of  business 
with  the  islanders." 

The  Indians  joined  the  whites  with  much  spirit  in 
these  adventures,  and,  being  good-natured  and  obedi- 
ent, as  well  as  especially  dexterous  in  every  kind  of 
sport,  they  were  of  the  utmost  assistance  in  the  manning 
of  extra  boats. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  1690  that  the  whaling 
industry,  which  made  the  island  famous,  was  thoroughly 
organized  and  established  on  a  business  basis.  This 
subject  is,  however,  of  such  importance  in  relation  to 
the  progress  of  the  island  that  a  special  chapter  must 
be  devoted  to  its  brief  consideration. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  dawn  of  the  i8th  century  found 
the  development  of  the  island  and  its  resources  in  a 
very  satisfactory  and  hopeful  condition.  The  popula- 
tion was  increasing  rapidly,  money  was  circulating  more 
freely,  the  transfer  of  nearly  all  aboriginal  lands  had 
been  arranged  with  the  natives,  and  the  soil  had  been 
proved  sufficiently  fertile  and  productive;  the  natives 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   93 

themselves  were,  for  the  most  part,  zealously  co-operat- 
ing with  the  whites,  the  whaHng  industry  was  proving 
a  great  boon  to  the  islanders,  and  prospects  of  still 
greater  progress  and  success  were  fully  assured. 

On  the  1 2th  of  April,  1742,  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives voted  that 

His  Excellency  the  Captain  General  be  desired  to  give  orders 
that  within  twelve  months  there  be  erected  within  the  Town 
and  Harbour  of  Sherburn  on  Nantucket  a  good  and  sufficient 
Breast- Work,  and  a  Platform  built,  and  six  guns,  six  pounders 
and  others  equivalent  mounted,  and  all  suitable  Warlike 
Stores  procured,  and  that  the  sum  of  £150  be  granted,  etc.^ 

The  above  vote  was  taken  for  the  purpose  of  forti- 
fying Nantucket. 

Numerous  collateral  branches  of  industry  directly 
or  indirectly  connected  with  whaling  soon  became 
essential,  and  were  duly  instituted.  Thus  wharves 
had  to  be  built  for  the  accommodation  of  an  increasing 
fleet  of  vessels,  and  that  still  known  as  the  Straight 
Wharf  was  erected  in  or  about  1723.  From  1772  to 
1775  new  industries  were  established  in  every  direction. 
The  first  candle  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  sperm 
candles  was  erected  in  1772  and  its  annual  output,  at 
one  time,  amounted  to  4,560,000  candles.  Large  rope- 
walks  for  the  making  of  whale-lines  and  every  de- 
scription of  rope,  were  constructed;  also  salt-works,  a 
brush-factory,  brickworks  (at  Gull  Island),  a  rum  dis- 
tillery, a  woollen  factory,  and  many  other  mechanical 
arts  and  devices  were  established.  The  numerous  mills 
which  had  been  erected  and  were  working  upon  the 
island  about  this  time  and  other  manufacturing  indus- 
tries are  referred  to  elsewhere.^ 

•  IMass.  State  Records.  »  Vide  Chapter  XX. 


94  Nantucket 

In  1746  the  first  lighthouse  built  at  Nantucket, 
being  the  second  built  in  the  United  States,  was  erected 
at  Brant  Point.'  For  forty-five  years  a  light  was 
maintained  here  by  the  town  authorities  until  1795, 
when  the  government  assumed  the  responsibility. 

In  1764  a  Hospital  for  Inoculation  was  established 
in  Boston,  and  Dr.  Gelston  established  a  branch  on 
Gravelly  Island.  The  people,  however,  soon  became 
dissatisfied,  and  eventually  disapproved  of  the  measure 
so  strongly  that  the  town  was  induced  to  petition  the 
government  against  the  practice,  and  this  requisition 
stopped  it  for  a  time:  but  it  was  resumed  in  1778,  when 
the  people  persisted  in  their  opposition,  and  Dr.  Gel- 
ston was  refunded  for  his  outlay  (£1072.17.6 — old 
tenor),  and  he  was  banished  from  the  island. 

In  1775  the  present  jail  was  probably  erected.^ 

A  volume  would  be  required  to  adequately  describe 
the  terrible  experiences  of  Nantucketers  during  the 
Revolutionary  War  of  1 775-1 784,  but  beyond  a  few 
general  statements,  the  briefest  reference  is  all  that  the 
exigencies  of  space  will  permit  here.  It  may  be  truth- 
fully said,  however,  that  no  other  place  in  the  Union 
paid  a  higher  price  for  the  independence  thus  obtained 
than  the  inhabitants  of  Nantucket.  While  their  insular 
position  laid  them  open  to  every  kind  of  attack  by  an 
enemy  inured  to  warfare  for  hundreds  of  years,  and 
infinitely  superior  in  numbers  and  experience,  they 
were  by  the  same  conditions  prevented  from  making 
any  adequate  defence,  while,  for  obvious  reasons,  their 
own  country  could  afford  them  but  little  protection. 
The  islanders  had  no  choice  but  to  submit  to  the  in- 

'  Boston  Light  was  erected  in  1715. 

'  The  adjacent  House  of  Correction  was  built  in  1805,  and  removed 
from  Quaise,  with  the  Asylum  for  the  Poor,  in  1854. 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island  95 

evitable,  and  to  do  the  best  they  could  under  any 
circumstances  that  might  arise. 

The  whaHng  industry,  on  which  the  vital  interests 
of  the  island  entirely  depended,  ceased,  and  beyond  a 
little  risky  trading  carried  on  with  the  West  Indies, 
and  a  little  shoal-fishing  round  the  shores  of  the  island, 
all  their  maritime  activities  were  paralyzed.  In  ever- 
increasing  distress  many  of  the  islanders  enlisted,  others 
ventured  on  privateer  service,  and  of  those  who  left 
few  returned  to  the  island.  It  soon  became  impossible 
to  import  goods  of  any  kind,  the  supply  of  fuel  and 
provisions  was  almost  entirely  cut  off,  and  many  of 
those  who  ventured  forth  to  obtain  them  were  captured 
and  imprisoned  in  the  loathsome  prison-ships,  which 
the  islanders  dreaded  far  more  than  the  suffering  and 
privations  which  prevailed  to  such  an  extreme  degree 
on  the  island. 

By  degrees  their  pecuniary  resources  were  almost 
expended  and  rank  famine  stared  the  people  in  the 
face;  employment  of  every  kind  was  at  a  standstill; 
food  was  becoming  scarce,  and  fuel  could  not  be  pro- 
cured. In  the  latter  emergency  the  inhabitants  were 
driven  to  utilize  peat,  scrub-oak  roots,  and  dried  bark. 
The  Nantucketers  became  as  starving  prisoners  on 
their  own  island,  for  British  cruisers  infested  the  Sound 
night  and  day.  Worse  than  all,  perhaps,  were  the 
repeated  threats  of  the  enemy  to  plunder  and  rob  the 
island;  and  on  one  occasion,  in  1779,  they  landed  about 
a  hundred  men,  who  robbed  the  islanders  of  property 
to  the  amount  of  £10,666.13.4.' 

In  simple  justice  to  the  British  Army  and  Navy  it 
should  be  stated  that  the  commanders-in-chief  of  both 
services,  on  being  petitioned  by  the  Nantucket  authori- 

'  Macy,  History  of  Nantucket,  p.  91. 


96  Nantucket 

ties,  sympathized  with  the  islanders  and  assured  them 
that  "no  further  depredations  should  be  made  upon  the 
island,  on  property  belonging  to  the  inhabitants,  by 
persons  under  the  authority  of  Great  Britain," 

But  a  few  months  afterwards,  it  having  been  falsely 
represented  to  the  enemy  that,  on  the  12th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1779,  the  armed  schooner.  Royal  Charlotte,  was 
prevented  from  seizing  a  Nantucket  sloop  by  "wafts 
and  signals"  from  the  said  sloop,  a  squadron  of  English 
armed  vessels  was  despatched  against  Nantucket,  and 
had  actually  arrived  in  Vineyard  Haven;  and  it  was 
only  after  explanations  and  interviews  between  the 
representatives  of  the  island  and  the  commanders  of 
the  royal  forces  that  the  matter  was  adjusted,  and  the 
war- vessels  took  their  departure. 

Such  vicissitudes  and  embarrassments  kept  the 
imfortunate  Nantucketers  in  a  continuous  state  of 
anxiety  and  alarm,  but  they  had  found  in  their  isolated 
position  that  submission  was  the  best  test  of  prudence, 
and  that  patience  under  the  decrees  of  Providence 
would  in  the  end  ensure  their  deliverance. 

In  addition  to  the  blighting  ravages  of  the  war,  the 
exceptionally  inclement  winter  of  1780  rendered  the 
lot  of  the  brave  islanders  desolate  indeed.  Not  only 
was  the  cold  intense,  but  the  harbor,  as  well  as  the 
entire  island,  was  fast-bound  in  fields  of  ice,  thus 
cutting  off  supplies  of  fish  and  fuel,  while  there  was  a 
dire  want  of  provisions  and  raiment.  All  classes 
of  the  community,  however,  joined  in  a  mighty  co-oper- 
ative effort  to  prevent  the  threatening  famine,  and 
everything  that  could  be  suggested  was  accomplished 
in  order  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  suffering  people 
and  to  save  their  lives.  Vegetation  had  been  more 
prolific  than  usual  during  the  preceding  year,  and  the 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   97 

farmers  had  been  enabled  to  accumulate  a  surplusage 
of  grain  and  vegetables  beyond  their  own  requirements, 
and  this  was  divided  among  the  famished  islanders 
without  stint;  there  being  thousands  of  sheep  on  the 
island,  the  women  spun  the  wool,  and  kept  those 
dependent  upon  them  supplied  with  raiment;  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  island  placed  large  tracts  of  land,  amount- 
ing to  thousands  of  acres,  at  the  disposal  of  laborers 
for  improvement  and  cultivation,  and  the  people  were 
permitted  to  dig  peat  out  of  the  extensive  island-swamps. 
From  these  conjoined  agencies,  added  to  the  charitable 
organizations  of  the  town  authorities,  much  relief  was 
brought  to  the  poorer  classes  of  the  inhabitants,  but 
the  hearts  of  the  seafaring  men  were  ardently  longing 
for  an  opportunity  to  plow  the  watery  deep  once 
more,  and  efforts  in  this  direction  were  made  by  pe- 
titioning and  interviewing  the  British  authorities. 
Certain  privileges  were  thus  secured  which  enabled 
the  whalers  to  re-engage  in  their  industry. 

Peace  was  at  length  proclaimed  in  1784,  and,  as 
Macy  says:  "Joy  pervaded  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  was  nowhere  more  heartfelt  than  in  Nantucket, 
for  perhaps  no  place  had  suffered  more."^ 

In  1775,  when  the  war  broke  out,  the  aggregate 
tonnage  of  Nantucket  ships  was  14,867  tons.  During 
the  war  fifteen  ships  were  lost  at  sea,  and  134  captured; 
total  loss  in  tonnage,  12,464  tons,  of  which  more  than 
10,000  tons  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  war  had  indeed  demoralized  every  industry  on 
the  island,  and  while  time  and  the  continued  blessing 
of  peace  could  alone  restore  to  the  inhabitants  generally 
their   former    happiness    and    prosperity,    the    poorer 

'  It  has  been  stated  that  1600  Nantucketers  perished  in  one  way  and 

another,  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 
7 


98  Nantucket 

classes  were  severely  handicapped  for  years  to  come, 
while  many  of  the  whalers  were  incapacitated  from 
following  their  strenuous  calling  after  such  a  lapse  of 
activity  as  they  had  experienced  during  the  "seven 
years  war."  Many  were  the  trials  made  by  the  island- 
ers to  recover  from  their  deplorable  condition.  Cod- 
fishing  was  tried,  and  gave  promise  for  a  time,  but  it 
gradually  failed  from  a  variety  of  causes;  agriculture 
languished,  because  those  who  had  been  farmers  were 
no  longer  sufficiently  strong  or  active  to  carry  on  the 
necessary  operations,  and  the  younger  men  were  dis- 
inclined to  engage  in  it.  The  whaling  industry  offered 
the  best  prospects,  and  the  majority  of  the  men  turned 
instinctively  towards  it,  but  those  who  re-embarked 
in  it  could  not  make  it  remunerative,  although  the 
government  had  put  a  bounty  on  whale  oil.  The 
English  Government  held  out  such  inducements  to 
whalers,  if  they  would  come  to  Nova  Scotia  or  to 
Milford  Haven  in  the  west  of  England,  that  many 
Nantucketers  left  their  island  home,  and  this  to  a  great 
extent  thinned  the  ranks  of  those  capable  of  taking 
arduous  sea-voyages  and  engaging  in  whale-fishing. 
The  industry,  however,  was  spreading  in  other  coun- 
tries, and  Nantucketers  at  length  determined  not  to  be 
outdone  in  a  calling  which  they  had  made  their  own ;  and, 
although  handicapped  for  a  time,  they  succeeded  at  last. 

In  1784  the  State  erected  a  lighthouse  on  Great 
Point,  and  in  1790  the  site  became  the  property  of  the 
United  States. 

The  first  vessel  to  engage  in  the  pursuit  of  whales  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean  sailed  from  Nantucket  in  179 1.  In 
the  latter  part  of  May  or  early  in  June,  1795,  the 
Nantucket  Bank  was  established,  and  it  was  robbed 
of  over  $20,000,  on  June  20th  of  the  same  year! 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island   99 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  money  stolen,  copied 
from  an  official  source: 

VALUE 

400  pieces  of  French-coined  gold $1733 

150  Spanish  Pistoles 550    . 

300  English  Guineas 1400 

50  English  Half-guineas 116 

22  pieces  of  coined  gold  called  Half  Joannes  1 76 
18       "     "         "       "       "      Quarter     Jo- 
annes   72 

$4,047 
In  Dollars 12,007 

4430  French  Crowns 4,873 


$20,927 


It  was  in  1795,  also,  that  the  name  of  the  town  was 
changed  from  Sherburne  to  the  modem  form  of  its 
aboriginal  name,  Nantucket. ' 

During  1796  general  business  depression  prevailed, 
and  a  number  of  inhabitants  sought  for  better  conditions 
elsewhere.  Some  succeeded  in  their  quest,  while 
others  might  have  done  better  if  they  had  remained  at 
home. 

Reverting  to  the  exodus  of  the  islanders  to  other 
places,  from  time  to  time,  on  account  of  abandoned 
hope,  if  not  actual  privation,  it  should  be  mentioned 
that,  as  early  as  1 761-2,  a  large  number  of  Nantucketers 
migrated  to  Nova  Scotia;  in  1771-75  nearly  fifty  fam.i- 
Hes  removed  to  New  Garden,  Guilford,  North  Carolina; 
a  little  later,  with  the  idea  of  bettering  their  fortime, 

'  An  appropriation  of  about  $900  was  made  in  1796  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  school,  but  the  writer  has  found  no  other  record  concerning 
it. 


100  Nantucket 

many  of  them  effected  a  settlement  on  the  Hudson 
River,  New  York.  After  the  Revolutionary  War,  in 
1786,  mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr. 
Rotch,  the  well-known  Nantucket  shipowner,  a  large 
contingent  of  whalers  were  induced  to  go  to  Dunkirk, 
in  France.  Still  later,  between  1835  and  1849,  a 
further  exodus  took  place  to  Maine,  New  York,  Ohio, 
and  California.  These  emigrations  depleted  the  island 
of  whalers  to  a  great  extent,  and  doubtless  contributed 
to  the  failure  of  the  whaling  industry  on  Nantucket. 

From  time  to  time  the  question  has  frequently  been 
asked  "Was  Nantucket  ever  heavily  wooded?"  As 
far  as  can  be  ascertained,  while  undoubtedly  possessing 
in  certain  sections  clumps  or  groves  of  trees  at  an  early 
period,  the  island  was  yet  never  what  may  be  termed 
afforested.  Trees  of  various  kinds,  but  especially  of 
white  oak,  grew  at  Coatue,  Coskata,  on  the  cliff, — near 
the  O'Connor  and  John  Gardner  houses, — at  Dead-horse 
Valley,  in  the  "Plains  Country,"  and  here  and  there 
over  the  island;  but  by  1780  these  trees  had,  for  the 
most  part,  been  cut  down  and  utilized  by  the  settlers, 
so  that  after  this  period  it  could  scarcely  be  said  that 
any  extensive  growth  of  trees  was  in  existence.  In 
some  of  the  island  swamps  tree-roots  of  good  size  have 
been  dug  up  occasionally,  but  these  simply  testify 
that  the  trees  of  which  they  had  formed  part  had  been 
used  for  building  and  other  purposes  by  the  white 
proprietors  before  1780. 

Although  well-authenticated,  it  is  not  generally 
known  that,  between  1 790-1 800,  a  whipping-post  stood 
at  the  comer  of  Main  and  Gardner  Streets,  and  that  a 
woman  named  Polly  Walmsley  was  here  publicly 
whipped — her  outstretched  arms  being  tied  to  the  back 
of  a  cart. 


The  Early  Development  of  the  Island  loi 

In  1798  the  islanders  were  in  fear  of  being  implicated 
in  the  troubles  between  France  and  the  United  States, 
and  were  filled  with  gloom  and  anxiety  as  to  the  possi- 
bilities of  another  war.  Although  these  forebodings 
were,  fortunately,  not  fully  realized,  the  resources  of 
the  island  suffered  to  the  extent  of  $150,000.' 

Fresh  anxiety  and  alarm  were  felt  concerning  the 
safety  of  Nantucket  ships  around  the  Horn  during  the 
next  year,  but  happily  these  fears  were  groundless,  for 
although  the  Nantucketers  had  little  confidence  in  the 
Spanish  authorities,  the  ships  proceeded  safely  after  a 
few  days'  detention  at  St.  Mary's. 

Between  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  that  of  18 12, 
a  formidable  fleet  of  privateers  infested  the  high  seas. 
In  1793,  when  there  was  warfare  between  France  and 
England,  the  United  States  was  the  leading  neutral 
maritime  nation.  England  foresaw  that  American 
shipping  would  soon  dominate  the  Mediterranean  if 
means  were  not  taken  to  prevent  such  a  contingency, 
and,  as  a  check,  pirates  were  loosed  upon  the  Atlantic. 

On  May  9,  1793,  the  French  Government  authorized 
the  seizure  of  "all  neutral  vessels  which  shall  be  laden 
wholly  or  in  part  with  food-products  and  destined  for 
an  enemy's  port."  This  action  was  the  cause  of  what 
has  since  been  known  as  the  "French  Spoliations" 
of  the  American  merchant  marine,  giving  rise  to  a 
multitude  of  claims,  which  were  finally  settled  by 
compromise. 

England  was  acting  in  defense  of  her  maritime  su- 
premacy, and  was,  therefore,  bound  to  oppose  all  possi- 
ble rivals  of  that  supremacy,  and,  food  being  scarce  in 
France,  she  determined  to  stop  all  food-laden  ships 
bound  for  that  country. 

'  Alexander  Starbuck. 


102  Nantucket 

Spain  also,  in  her  privateering  enterprises,  seized 
scores  of  American  ships,  and  under  one  pretext  or 
another  many  were  carried  into  the  ports  of  Denmark 
and  Sweden  from  piratical  motives  alone.  But  it 
should  be  remembered  that  despite  all  this,  in  1880, 
America  possessed  667,107  tons  of  shipping  engaged  in 
foreign  trade.' 

The  Nantucket  streets  were  first  named  in  1797. 

The  closing  years  of  the  century  passed  away  amid 
alternating  hopes  and  fears;  but,  notwithstanding 
their  many  discouragements,  the  islanders  still  looked 
forward  hopefully  for  better  fortune  in  the  new  era 
upon  which  they  were  entering. 

*  Spears's  American  Merchant  Marine.    The  Macmillan  Co.,  1910. 


CHAPTER  VI 

the  nantucket  whale  fishery 

By  Alexander  Starbuck 

The  prosecution  of  the  whale  fishery  from  the  little 
island  of  Nantucket  was  an  undertaking  that  might 
well  have  been  a  matter  of  pride  for  any  community 
or  any  nationality.  Such  was  the  skill  and  daring  of 
the  islanders  in  this  pursuit  that  they  carried  their 
employment,  hazardous  enough  under  the  most  favor- 
able aspects,  to  an  extreme  that  seemed  audacious, 
and  won  the  plaudits  even  of  those  who  were  their 
rivals  in  the  business. 

What  England  and  France  were  unable  to  accomplish 
with  a  monopoly  of  trade  and  heavy  bounties,  whale- 
men of  the  United  States  carried  on  successfully  with- 
out assistance  from  their  government  and  in  the  face 
of  all  competition.  Among  the  foremost  were  the 
seamen  of  Nantucket.  Their  keels  vexed  every  sea, 
and  the  American  flag  floated  from  the  mastheads  of 
their  ships  in  every  port.  Pushing  their  pursuit  into 
unknown  seas,  large  numbers  of  the  islands  of  the 
Pacific  were  discovered,  and  their  locations  determined 
by  these  pioneers  of  the  sea.  At  once  producers  and 
factors,  their  trade  extended  from  China  in  the  west  to 

103 


104  Nantucket 

the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  in  the  east ;  and  they 
traded  as  well  in  the  teas  and  silks  of  the  Orient  as  in 
the  fruits  and  wines  and  manufactured  goods  of  the 
Occident.  They  brought  as  curiosities  the  dresses  of 
the  Esquimaux  and  the  weapons  of  the  natives  of  the 
Pacific  islands;  the  trinkets  of  the  Japanese  and  the 
natives  of  the  lands  bordering  Behring's  Straits,  and 
the  papyrus  books  of  the  people  of  India.  At  home, 
when  peace  reigned,  the  people  were  all  busy,  happy, 
and  prosperous,  the  warehouses  were  crowded  with 
goods,  and  the  streets  thronged  with  teams  and  foot 
passengers.  At  the  wharves  lay  a  large  fleet  of  vessels 
taking  in  or  discharging  cargoes  or  refitting  for  new 
voyages.  The  cheery  din  of  the  coopers'  hammers  and 
the  ring  of  the  blacksmiths'  anvils  resounded  on  all 
sides,  the  sail-lofts,  the  shops  of  the  riggers,  and  the 
"walks"  of  the  rope-makers  were  occupied  by  the 
multitudes  that  the  demands  of  the  shipping  gave 
employment  to.  In  a  thousand  ways  the  activities 
of  a  prosperous  business  showed  themselves.  But 
all  this  is  now  changed.  The  ships  long  ago  sailed  on 
their  last  voyages  from  Nantucket. 

Not  an  ocean  on  the  face  of  the  globe  but  holds  in  its 
embrace  the  shattered  remains  of  a  portion  of  her  fleet, 
while  the  surviving  portion  hails  from  other  ports. 
The  tools  of  the  mechanic  are  silent,  and  the  bustle  of 
traffic  no  longer  crowds  the  streets.  The  wharves  are 
deserted,  decaying,  or  decayed,  and  the  warehouses 
have  long  been  vacant  and  closed. 

To  a  native  of  Nantucket,  it  is  a  sad  sight  to  thus 
see  Ichabod  written  on  her  desolate  places ;  to  look  upon 
the  ruined  wharves  and  storehouses,  and  to  see  even 
the  "toilers  of  the  sea"  themselves  look  old  and 
weather-beaten;  to  see  them  rapidly  nearing  that  port 


The  Nantucket  Whale  Fishery        105 

in  which  the  anchor  will  be  cast  never  to  be  weighed 
again. 

Of  the  early  history  of  whaling  at  Nantucket,  much 
is  involved  in  obscurity.  In  common  with  all  the 
hardy  settlers  of  the  New  England  coast,  those  here 
must  have  paid  early  attention  to  fishing,  since  it 
aiforded  one  of  the — by  no  means  numerous — methods 
of  subsistence  to  the  first  comers ;  and  to  men  inured  to 
the  sea,  and  appreciating  the  value  of  a  pursuit  which 
had  already  brought  a  goodly  recompense  to  the  Bis- 
cayans,  the  Dutch,  and  the  English,  it  was  natural  that 
with  the  waters  adjacent  to  their  island  teeming  with 
the  gigantic  mammals,  they  should  soon  have  turned 
their  attention  to  the  pursuit  and  capture  of  the  whale. 

On  the  records  of  the  town,  under  date  of  June  5, 
1672,  appears  the  draft  of  a  proposed  agreement  be- 
tween one  James  Loper  of  the  one  part  and  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  island  of  Nantucket  of  the  other  part.  As 
this  is  the  first  recorded  recognition  of  whale-fishing 
in  the  history  of  our  island,  it  may  be  a  matter  of  interest 
to  the  reader,  and  is  in  these  words: 

5th.  4th.  mo.  1672  James  Lopar  doth  Ingage  to  carry  on 
a  design  of  whale  Citching  on  the  Island  of  Nantuckket, 
that  is  the  said  James  Ingages  to  be  a  third  in  all  respeckes, 
and  som  of  the  Town  Ingage  also  to  carrey  on  the  other 
two  thirds  with  him  in  like  manner,  the  Town  doth  also 
Consent,  that  first  one  Company  shall  begin  and  afterward 
the  rest  of  the  freeholders  or  any  of  them  have  liberty  to 
set  up  another  Company  Provided  that  they  make  a  tender 
to  those  freeholders  that  have  no  share  in  the  first  Company 
and  if  any  refuse,  the  Rest  may  go  on  themselves,  and  the 
Town  do  also  Ingage  that  no  other  Company  shal  be  al- 
lowed hereafter ;  also  whosoever  Ivil  any  whale  of  the  Com- 
pany or  Companys  aforesaid  they  ar  to  pay  to  the  Town 


io6  Nantucket 

for  every  such  Whale  five  Shillings — and  for  the  Incorrage- 
ment  of  the  said  James  Lopar  the  Town  doth  grant  him 
Ten  acres  of  Land  in  som  convenant  place,  that  he  may 
Chuse  in,  (wood  Land  exceped)  and  also  Liberty  for  the 
Commonage  of  the  Cows  and  twenty  sheep  and  one  horse 
with  necesary  Wood  and  water  for  his  use  on  Conditions 
that  he  follow  the  Trade  of  whaleing  on  the  Island  two 
years  in  all  the  season  thereof,  beginning  the  first  of  March 
next  insuing.  Also  is  to  build  upon  his  land,  and  when  he 
leaves  Inhabiting  upon  the  Island  then  he  is  first  to  ofer 
his  Land  to  the  Town  at  a  Valluable  price,  and  if  the  Town 
do  not  buy  it — then  he  may  sel  it  to  whome  he  please — 
the  commonage  is  granted  only  for  the  time  he  stays  here. 

But  although  this  would  seem  at  first  glance  to  imply 
that  Loper  took  up  his  abode  among  the  islanders, 
there  is  no  proof  that  such  was  the  fact.  One  James 
Loper  (or  Looper)  was  a  resident  of  Easthampton  on 
Long  Island,  and  carried  on  the  business  of  whaling 
at  that  place;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  up  to  1678 
he  had  left  there,  for  at  that  time  he  was  still  a  tax- 
payer in  that  town.  Nowhere  else  on  the  Nantucket 
records,  neither  in  the  proprietors'  list  of  grantees 
forwarded  to  New  York  in  1674,  nor  in  the  record  of 
lands  "layd  out  by  the  land  layers,"  is  his  name  men- 
tioned, nor  does  the  document  just  quoted  appear  to 
be  signed.  In  the  absence  of  such  evidence,  which 
must  have  existed  had  he  removed  to  the  island,  we 
must  conclude  that  he  had  no  share  in  giving  to  the 
islanders  instruction  in  the  art  that  subsequently  made 
them  world-renowned. 

According  to  the  account  of  Macy  {History  of  Nan- 
tucket), 

the  first  whaling  expedition  in  Nantucket  was  undertaken 
by  some  of  the  original  purchasers  of  the  island ;  the  circum- 


The  Nantucket  Whale  Fishery        107 

stances  of  which  are  handed  down  by  tradition,  and  are 
as  follows: 

"A  whale  of  the  kind  called  'scragg,'  came  into  the 
harbor  and  continued  there  three  days.  This  excited  the 
curiosity  of  the  people,  and  led  them  to  devise  measures  to 
prevent  his  return  out  of  the  harbor.  They  accordingly 
invented  and  caused  to  be  wrought  for  them  a  harpoon, 
with  which  they  attacked  and  killed  the  whale.  This 
first  success  encouraged  them  to  undertake  whaling  as  a 
permanent  business,  whales  being  at  that  time  numerous 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  shores." 

The  date  of  this  expedition  does  not  appear.  Our 
judgment  would  be  that  it  was  prior  to  1672,  however, 
and  that  the  proposed  agreement  with  Loper  was  a 
result  of  it. 

"In  1690,"  writes  Zaccheus  Macy  in  a  communica- 
tion to  the  collection  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society  "the  Nantucketers,  finding  their  neighbors  on 
Cape  Cod  more  proficient  in  the  art  of  killing  whales 
and  extracting  the  oil  than  themselves,  sent  thither 
and  employed  Ichabod  Paddock  to  remove  to  the 
island  and  instruct  them  on  these  points."  It  is  prob- 
able that  the  removal  was  made,  and  that  Ichabod 
proved  a  good  teacher;  we  know  that  he  had  apt  pupils. 

The  early  stages  of  whaling  on  Nantucket  did  not 
require  either  large  vessels  or  elaborate  equipment. 
So  numerous  were  the  whales  that  boats  were  sufficient 
for  the  former  and  for  the  latter  such  "craft"  as  could 
be  easily  and  cheaply  made  was  all  that  was  necessary. 

For  the  purpose  of  systematizing  the  work,  the 
southern  shore  of  the  island  was  arranged  in  four  dis- 
tricts, to  each  of  which  a  crew  of  six  was  assigned;  the 
business  as  a  whole  being,  however,  carried  on  in  com- 
mon.    Near  the  center  of  each  division,  or  about  three 


io8  Nantucket 

and  one  half  miles  apart,  was  erected  a  mast  provided 
with  cleats,  which  was  used  for  the  purpose  of  a  look- 
out. Nearby  was  built  a  temporary  hut  for  the  pro- 
tection of  all  excepting  the  one  whose  station  was  on 
the  lookout.  When  the  man  at  the  masthead  observed 
a  whale  spouting,  the  alarm  was  given,  the  boats  were 
manned  and  launched,  and  the  chase  commenced.  A 
capture  made,  the  whale  was  towed  ashore,  and  the 
oil-producing  parts  were  removed  in  a  similar  manner 
to  the  custom  on  shipboard.  Try-works  were  erected 
on  the  beach  and  the  blubber,  which  had  been  cut  and 
sliced,  was  subjected  to  the  process  of  trying  out. 
These  try-works  were  used  for  many  years  after  shore- 
fishing  had  ceased  as  a  constant  pursuit;  the  blubber 
of  the  whales  captured  at  sea  being  cut  up  and  stowed 
into  casks  on  board  of  the  vessels,  and  removed  to  the 
try-works  and  the  oil  extracted  after  they  returned 
home. 

According  to  Macy's  History,  the  first  sperm  whale 
known  to  Nantucket  people  was  found  on  shore  dead; 
and  the  discovery,  according  to  the  account,  created 
quite  a  sensation.  In  1712  Christopher  Hussey,  while 
cruising  near  the  island  for  "right"  whales,  was  blown 
some  distance  offshore,  and  falling  in  with  a  school 
of  sperm  whales,  killed  one  and  brought  it  home.  The 
discovery  of  Hussey  gave  a  new  turn  to  the  business, 
and  small  vessels  of  about  thirty  tons'  burden  were 
fitted  out  for  deep-sea  whaling.  These  vessels  were 
fitted  out  for  cruises  of  about  six  weeks'  duration,  and 
carried  a  few  hogsheads, — enough  probably  to  hold 
the  blubber  from  a  single  whale,  which  having  obtained 
they  returned  home;  the  owners  taking  charge  of  the 
blubber  and  trying  out  the  oil,  the  vessels  sailing  again 
on  another  voyage. 


The  Nantucket  Whale  Fishery        109 

In  1 715  six  sloops  were  engaged  in  this  fishery  from 
Nantucket.  Five  years  after  this,  Paul  Starbuck,  in 
the  ship  Hanover,  WilHam  Chadder,  master,  made  the 
first  shipment  of  oil  from  Nantucket  to  England,  the 
vessel  sailing  from  Boston  to  London. 

In  1723  the  Straight  Wharf  was  built  for  the  better 
accommodation  for  the  vessels  which  were  demanded 
by  the  necessities  of  trade  and  fishing. 

In  1730  twenty-five  whaling  vessels,  of  from  thirty- 
eight  to  fifty  tons'  burden  each,  were  owned  at  Nan- 
tucket; the  returns  being  about  3700  barrels  of  oil, 
worth  £3200. 

It  was  not  far  from  the  year  1 726  that  the  high- water 
mark  of  shore  whaling  was  reached  at  Nantucket.  In 
that  year  eighty-six  whales  were  taken  by  boats  from  the 
shore.  From  that  time  this  mode  of  whaling  declined, 
and  that  of  carrying  on  the  pursuit  by  means  of  vessels 
increased.  As  the  boats  had  been  manned  in  part  by 
Indians,  so  the  crews  of  the  vessels  contained  many 
aborigines. 

In  1732  Davis  Strait  was  visited  by  whalemen,  prob- 
ably from  Cape  Cod,  and  we  may  be  sure  that  the  sea- 
men of  Nantucket  did  not  long  delay  following  this 
example.  It  is  difficult  to  prove,  however,  at  what  date 
trips  to  that  locality  commenced.  Among  the  entries 
and  clearances  at  Boston  in  1737  are  several  to  and 
from  the  strait.  Among  the  names  are  many  familiar 
to  Nantucket.  In  1745  our  people  loaded  a  vessel 
with  oil  and  sent  her  direct  to  England.  From  this 
beginning  grew  a  trade  that  eventually  became  world- 
wide,— France,  Russia,  Spain,  the  nations  bordering 
on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  even  China  con- 
tributed in  turn  directly  to  the  prosperity  of  our  little 
isle. 


no  Nantucket 

Matters  continued  to  progress  favorably,  on  the 
whole,  with  our  whalemen  down  to  the  commencement 
of  the  Revolution.  French  and  Spanish  privateers 
had  captured  some  of  our  vessels,  and  one  time  forced 
them  to  abandon  the  northern  fishery ;  but  these  troubles 
were  of  short  duration,  and  of  little  comparative  import- 
ance as  affecting  the  general  thrift. 

The  Revolution  found  Nantucket  with  a  fleet  of 
150  vessels  with  an  aggregate  burden  of  15,000  tons, 
manned  by  2025  men  and  producing  30,000  barrels 
of  sperm  and  4000  barrels  of  whale  oil.  Her  seamen 
were  familiar  with  the  Atlantic  Ocean  from  Davis 
Strait  to  the  coasts  of  Guinea  and  Brazil.  The  cur- 
rent of  the  Gulf  Stream  was  as  familiar  to  them  as  the 
harbor  of  their  island  home ;  and  the  first  man  to  describe 
upon  a  chart  that  now  well-known  body  of  water  was, 
so  far  as  history  informs  us,  Captain  Timothy  Folger 
of  Nantucket. 

Every  effort  was  made  by  the  best  friends  of  the 
colonies  in  England  to  avert  war;  and  it  was  in  the 
debates  in  Parliament,  in  1775,  upon  the  adoption  of 
severe  measures  towards  the  colony  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  that  that  speech  of  Burke's  so  familiar  to  the 
people  of  Nantucket,  in  which  he  so  warmly  eulogized 
those  engaged  in  the  fisheries,  was  delivered. 

During  the  Revolution,  Nantucket  was  the  only 
port  from  which  any  attempt  was  made  to  carry  on  the 
whale  fishery,  and  from  here  the  work  was  carried  on 
under  the  most  discouraging  circumstances.  No  com- 
munity in  the  colonies  was  so  hard  pressed  as  was  that 
of  Nantucket.  The  Colonial  Government  was  utterly 
powerless  to  protect  them,  and  the  island  itself  was 
indefensible,  even  had  the  people  been  disposed  to 
protect  themselves.     By  far  the  larger  portion  of  the 


The  Nantucket  Whale  Fishery        iii 

population  were  of  the  sect  of  Friends  and  abhorred 
war  as  a  matter  of  religious  faith.  All  provisions,  fuel, 
clothing,  the  outfits  for  their  vessels,  everything  that 
was  needed  for  their  sustenance,  had  to  be  brought  to 
the  island ;  if  they  imported  nothing,  they  must  perish ; 
if  they  procured  their  supplies  from  colonial  "ports, 
they  traded  with  rebels,  and  the  British  seized  their 
vessels;  if  they  got  their  supplies  from  foreign  markets, 
they  were  smugglers,  and  they  became  a  prey  to  colo- 
nial armed  vessels  and  boats.  Thus  they  struggled 
through  the  terrible  seven  years  of  war.  Realizing 
the  straits  to  which  the  islanders  were  reduced,  the 
Colonial  Government  relaxed  the  rigors  of  their  laws 
as  much  as  was  possible,  and  beyond  a  doubt  closed 
their  eyes  to  many  things  which,  under  other  circum- 
stances, they  would  have  punished. 

It  would  be  extremely  interesting,  did  space  permit, 
to  follow  closely  the  history  of  the  fishery  during  the 
Revolution,  but  the  limits  assigned  to  this  article  make 
such  a  narration  impossible. 

At  the  earliest  moment  after  peace  had  been  declared, 
when  safety  rendered  it  expedient,  the  ship  Bedford, 
Captain  William  Mooers  with  a  load  of  four  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  butts  of  oil,  was  despatched  to  London 
and  to  this  ship  belongs  the  honor  of  having  been  the 
first  vessel  to  hoist  the  American  flag  in  any  British 
port.  ^ 

Recovery  from  the  disasters  of  the  war  was  slow. 
The  principal  market  for  oil  was  in  England ;  and  to 
shut  off  the  importation  from  America,  Parliament 
passed  an  alien  duty  of  £i8  sterling  a  ton.     Although 

'  F.  C.  Sanford,  Esq.,  informed  the  compiler  that  this  was  February  3, 
1783,  and  that  she  arrived  at  Nantucket  from  London  May  31,  1783, 
her  entry  at  the  custom  house  at  the  time  being  in  his  possession. 


112  Nantucket 

the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  in  response  to 
the  petitions  of  the  people  of  Nantucket,  declared  a 
bounty,  it  did  not  permanently  remedy  the  trouble. 
So  heavy  was  the  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  Nan- 
tucket by  the  adverse  circumstances  immediately 
succeeding  the  Revolution,  that  large  numbers  of  her 
hardy  mariners  and  wealthy  merchants  were  compelled 
to  leave  the  home  endeared  to  them  by  so  many  happy 
associations,  and  seek  in  foreign  countries  the  recom- 
pense for  their  toil  and  their  investments  that  they 
were  unable  to  obtain  in  the  United  States.  Some  of 
them  settled  in  Nova  Scotia,  some  in  England,  and 
some  in  France.  To  the  English  and  French  fisheries 
there  sailed  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men  who 
once  found  a  home  on  Nantucket. 

Following  closely  upon  the  stagnation  resulting 
from  the  Revolution  came  the  troubles  with  France, 
in  which  Nantucket  suffered  to  the  extent  of  nearly 
$150,000.  Then  again  came  complications  with  Eng- 
land early  in  the  nineteenth  century.  Scarcely  had  a 
slight  gain  been  made,  and  the  business  again  become 
remunerative,  when  the  War  of  18 12  occurred.  A  large 
portion  of  Nantucket's  fleet  of  forty-six  whale-ships 
was  then  at  sea.  The  first  of  the  fleet  captured  was  the 
schooner  Mount  Hope;  in  rapid  succession  came  the 
tidings  of  the  capture  of  ship  after  ship,  until  one  half  of 
the  number  besides  smaller  vessels,  had  fallen  a  prey 
to  British  cruisers.  Some  were  taken  on  the  return 
voyage  within  sight  of  the  island.  The  miseries  and 
deprivations  of  the  Revolution  were  repeated ;  the  same 
struggle  for  existence  was  maintained  against  the  same 
terrible  odds.  In  February,  1815,  came  the  tidings  of 
peace,  and  again  our  islanders  essayed  to  restore  their 
shattered  fortunes.     The  first  vessel  to  return  to  any 


The  Nantucket  Whale  Fishery        113 

port  in  the  United  States  with  a  cargo  of  oil  after  the 
last  war  was  the  sloop  Mason's  Daughter ,  which  after  a 
six  weeks'  voyage  returned  to  Nantucket  on  the  9th 
of  July,  1 815,  with  one  hundred  barrels  of  oil. 

Recovery  from  these  disasters  of  18 12-15  was  rapid. 
In  December,  1820,  Nantucket  possessed  a  fleet  of 
seventy- two  whale-ships  (aggregating  20,449  tons), 
besides  brigs,  schooners,  and  sloops. 

In  1 8 19  occurred  the  accident  to  the  ship  Essex  of 
Nantucket  which  has  always  been  accounted  one  of 
the  most  singular  and  direful  that  has  ever  happened 
to  a  whaling  vessel.  An  enraged  sperm  whale  attacked 
and  sunk  her,  and  her  crew  were  obliged  to  make  a 
journey  of  three  months'  duration,  and  about  2000 
miles  in  extent  in  frail,  shattered  whale-boats.  But 
eight  of  the  crew  of  twenty  men  survived  to  tell  of  the 
terrible  perils  and  privations  of  their  voyage. 

In  1824  occurred  another  memorable  disaster  to  the 
crew  of  a  Nantucket  whaling  ship.  The  crew  of  the 
ship  Globe  mutinied,  killing  the  superior  officers  and 
some  of  the  men.  But  eight  of  the  crew  returned  alive 
to  Nantucket  to  tell  this  tale  of  horror.  The  others — 
those  who  were  not  killed  by  the  mutineers — were 
massacred  by  the  natives  of  the  Mulgrave  Islands, 
to  which  place  the  vessel  had  been  taken  by  the 
conspirators. 

The  business  of  whaling  from  Nantucket  reached 
its  culmination  in  1842  when  eighty-six  ships,  and  two 
brigs  and  schooners  belonged  to  the  port,  having  a 
capacity  of  36,000  tons.  From  this  time  the  pursuit 
from  Nantucket  declined.  Losses  from  a  terrible 
visitation  of  fire,  the  stampede  for  the  gold  mines  of 
California,  the  scarcity  of  whales,  the  expense  of  fitting 
and  increased  dangers  of  the  Arctic  fishery,  the  decline 

8 


114  Nantucket 

in  the  value  of  the  product,  the  discovery  of  petroleum, 
— all  served  to  cause  the  downfall  of  whaling,  not  only 
in  Nantucket,  but  in  other  ports.  In  1869  the  last 
whale-ship  sailed  from  the  port  of  Nantucket;  and  the 
business,  so  far  as  the  island's  interest  is  concerned, 
is  a  thing  of  the  past.  Nantucket's  mariners  now  sail 
from  other  ports,  and  the  stories  of  their  skill  and  daring 
are  stories  of  by-gone  years. 


CHAPTER  VII 

QUAKERISM  IN  NANTUCKET 

"  Nothing  is  more  difBcult  of  explanation  than  the  strength  and  moral 
influence  often  exerted  by  obscure  and  uneventful  lives." — John  G. 
Whittier. 

The  sect  known  as  Quakers  was  founded  in  England, 
by  George  Fox,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century. 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  name  Quakers  was  first 
applied  to  them  in  1650,  when  George  Fox  was  brought 
before  the  magistrates  of  Derby,  and  he  having  told 
them  to  "quake  at  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  one  of  the 
magistrates,  Gervose  Bennet,  an  Independent,  caught 
up  the  word,  and,  as  Fox  himself  said,  "was  the  first 
to  call  us  Quakers." 

Without  any  definite  creed  of  religious  faith,  the 
essential  principle  of  their  belief  was  that  an  inner 
Light  "lighteneth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world."  This  formed  the  basis  of  the  sect's  organiza- 
tion, and  constituted  its  moral  and  intellectual  claims 
for  adoption.  This  inner  light  was  a  free  gift  from 
Heaven  which  dowered  every  individual  bom  into  the 
world,  and  every  soul  was  responsible  for  its  recognition 
and  development,  while  its  directing  influence  was  the 
unerring  guide  to  the  interpretation  of  the  Holy  Writ. 

115 


ii6  Nantucket 

In  the  seventh  year  of  Fox's  preaching  (about  1650) 
there  were  more  than  sixty  preachers  following  in  his 
footsteps,  but  their  peculiar  views  subjected  them  to 
persecution  in  every  direction.  As  early  as  1647  Fox 
had  traveled  twice  to  America — at  that  time  little 
better  than  a  wilderness — and  during  the  two  years  of 
his  sojourn  was  frequently  maltreated,  and  suffered 
persecution  and  privations  innumerable.  He  was 
beaten  by  a  mob  and  left  for  dead.  Abuse  of  every 
sort,  imprisonment  in  the  loathsome  jails  of  that  time, 
exposure,  lack  of  decent  food,  all  failed  to  touch  his 
indomitable  spirit;  yet,  in  after  years.  North  America, 
became  the  stronghold  of  the  sect,  numbering,  as  it 
did,  at  one  time,  over  100,000! 

In  1656  two  Quaker  women — Ann  Austin  and  Mary 
Fisher — came  to  Boston — but  they  were  regarded  as 
witches,  imprisoned,  and  later  banished  from  the 
country.  In  1650,  three  men  and  one  woman  were 
subsequently  hanged  for  their  fanatical  zeal.  It  is 
further  stated  that 

the  persecutions  inflicted  upon  Quakers,  during  the  first 
forty  years  of  their  existence,  have  hardly  a  parallel  in  the 
history  of  the  last  two  centuries.  Bad  as  are  many  of  our 
prisons  now,  they  are  places  of  comfort  compared  with  the 
loathsome  dungeons  of  the  17th  century.  In  these  pesti- 
lential cells  there  were  confined  at  one  time  more  than 
4000  Quakers. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  there  were  in  the  world 
200,000  Quakers  during  part  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
more  than  one-half  of  which  flourished  in  the  United 
States.  Principally,  it  may  be  inferred,  to  escape 
persecution  a  number  of  Quakers  became  domiciled 
in   the   quaint,   freedom-loving    island   of   Nantucket, 


■ 

W7^ 

P 

^M 

■    ^B^^^9 

^ 

m 

^Hl'                    Aj^ «        ^^k 

1^ 

B^HB^^IL^ 

f^^^^^  *^aa||^Bp|H|H 

^J 

^^^^L^ 

*^  J 

H 

m^.^^^^Kt 

UF'&d^l 

HP 

^>i\»fiiiH|E*        ***"„".■■'.                                       "'"^B 

■H 

Iv^ 

t  .  -^'-'f' 

^H 

An  Old  Friend 
Photograph  by  H.  S.  Wyer 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  117 

early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  but,  although  they 
met  some  opposition,  they  were  never  maltreated  as 
they  had  been  on  the  mainland. 

As  early  as  1664  (as  appears  from  an  original  official 
document  never  utilized  before),  Jane  Stokes,  from 
England,  was  the  first  "Friend"  that  visited  the  island. 
In  1698,  Thomas  Turner,  from  England,  and  Thomas 
Copperthwaite,  from  Long  Island,  both  Quakers, 
visited  Nantucket. 

Thomas  Chalkley,  an  Englishman,  arrived  in  June 
of  the  same  year;  also  John  Easton  and  Joanna  Mott, 
from  Rhode  Island.  In  1699  came  Ebenezer  Slocum, 
Jacob  Mott,  and  his  son,  from  Rhode  Island. 

In  1700  (from  which  year,  the  writer  essays  to  faintly 
trace  the  history  of  Quakerism  in  Nantucket),  Thomas 
Story  arrived  from  England,  and  John  Butler  from 
Ireland.  From  this  time  forward,  the  leaven  of  the 
new  doctrine  began  to  work,  and  gradually  propagated 
itself.  Several  other  visiting  Friends  arrived  in  the 
meanwhile  from  England  and  various  parts  of  the  United 
States.  Thus,  in  June,  1701,  Thomas  Thompson  from 
England,  and  Jacob  Mott,  with  Walter  Clark,  from 
Rhode  Island,  came  amongst  them,  as  did  also,  during 
July  of  the  same  year,  John  Clark,  from  England,  and 
Susannah  Freeborn  and  Ruth  Fry,  from  Rhode  Island. 
Between  1701  and  1708  the  following  visiting  Friends 
arrived : 

April,  1702:  Jedediah  Allen,  from  New  Jersey; 
Thomas  Cornell,  from  New  Jersey;  John  Richardson, 
from  England ;  James  Bates,  from  Virginia ;  Jacob  Mott, 
from  Rhode  Island;  Susannah  Freeborn,  from  Rhode 
Island;  Peleg  Slocum  (first  visit),  from  Dartmouth. 

June,  1703:  John  Kinsey,  from  England;  Richard 
Gove,   from   England;   John   Hussey,    from   England; 


ii8  Nantucket 

Ephraim  Hicks,  from  Rhode  Island;  Peleg  Slocum 
(second  visit),  from  Dartmouth. 

1704:  Thomas  Chalkley,  Richard  Harper,  Mary 
Slocum,  from  England. 

April,  1705:  Samuel  Bownas,  Mary  Banister,  from 
England. 

July,  1705 :  Ann  Chapman,  from  England ;  Hugh  Cop- 
perthwaite,  from  Long  Island ;  Peleg  Slocum  (third  visit) , 
from  Dartmouth ;  William  Anthony,  from  Rhode  Island. 

January,  1706:  John  Fothergill,  celebrated  London 
physician;  William  Comstead,  from  England;  John 
Smith,  from  Philadelphia;  Susanna  Freeborn,  from 
Rhode  Island;  Hope  Borden,  from  Rhode  Island. 

June,  1706:  Joseph  Man  ton,  from  Rhode  Island; 
Ephraim  Hicks,  from  Rhode  Island;  Mary  Lason,  from 
England;  Esther  Palmer,  from  Rhode  Island. 

1707:  Jacob  Mott  and  wife,  from  Rhode  Island. 

It  was  fortimate  for  the  success  of  the  new  religious 
movement  that  it  received  its  first  impulse  from  such 
zealous  and  eloquent  preachers  as  Thomas  Chalkley, 
who  arrived  in  1698,  Thomas  Story,  who  came  in  1700, 
and  John  Richardson,  who  followed  them  in  1702. 
These  three  Englishmen  were  stalwart  upholders  of 
the  new  faith — well-versed  in  all  its  details,  while  pos- 
sessing enthusiastic  temperaments,  persuasive  tongues, 
and  rhetorical  experience — and  their  meetings  in 
Nantucket  were  not  only  well  attended,  but  effective 
and  highly  appreciated  by  the  islanders.  There  was 
an  undercurrent  of  opposition  to  their  peculiar  views 
at  first,  but  it  never  became  aggressive,  and  was  con- 
fined almost  entirely  to  the  official  authorities,  while 
no  repressive  measures  were  instituted.  Little  by 
little  the  tenets  of  the  new  religionists  influenced  the 
minds  and  hearts  of  the  Nantucketers. 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  119 

In  1 70 1,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  principally  through 
the  preaching  of  Story,  Mary  Starbuck  became  inter- 
ested in  the  faith  of  the  Quakers,  and  no  event  could 
have  been  better  calculated  to  give  a  great  impetus 
to  the  new  movement  which  had  already  been  inaugu- 
rated, for,  from  that  time,  she  took  the  spiritual  concern 
of  the  whole  island  under  her  special  superintendence. 

Mary  Starbuck  was  the  seventh  child  of  Tristram 
Coffin — the  mother  of  four  sons  and  six  daughters — 
a  woman  of  strong  magnetic  personality  and  extra- 
ordinary administrative  ability,  who  had  a  judicial 
mind,  clear  understanding,  and  possessed  a  genius  for 
participating  in  public,  social,  and  domestic  duties. 
She  was  withal  a  fluent  and  impressive  speaker,  and  the 
whole  island  looked  up  to  and  consulted  her  in  all 
matters  of  importance.  She  became  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  preachers  among  the  Friends,  and  gained 
many  converts  by  her  stirring  and  heart-touching 
addresses.  In  her  own  home  she  had  a  large  room, 
known  as  the  "Parliament  House,"  and  here  the 
meetings  took  place  during  four  years. 

In  April,  1708,  the  Quakers  were  fully  established 
in  Nantucket,  and  in  this  year  they  sought  communion 
(by  means  of  a  petition  to  the  Rhode  Island  Yearly 
Meeting)  with  some  "Quarterly  Meeting,"  and  to  have 
a  yearly  meeting  of  their  own.  The  latter  was  duly 
established.  They  evidently  became  affiliated  with 
the  Rhode  Island  and  Sandwich  Quarterly  meetings, 
and  a  special  note  in  an  unpublished  official  return 
states  that  "the  first  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Nan- 
tucket was  on  the  ist  of  the  seventh  month,  1782." 
Be  this  as  it  may,  from  1708  the  sect  gained  so  rapidly 
that,  in  171 1,  they  secured  a  lot,  serving  for  meeting- 
house and  burying-ground,  and  built  their  first  meeting- 


120  Nantucket 

house  a  little  to  the  southeast  of  the  ancient  burial 
ground;  and  in  1717  they  were  obliged  to  enlarge  this 
by  adding  twenty  feet  more  to  its  length. 

Mary  Starbuck  died  on  December  13,  17 19,  and  her 
death  was  a  serious  loss  to  the  community. 

In  or  about  1720,  the  town  was  moved  from  Wanna- 
comet  to  Wesko — the  present  Nantucket — and  the 
Quakers,  still  increasing,  resolved  to  build  a  new  and 
larger  meeting-house  in  the  new  town,  which  they 
accomplished  in  1731,  at  the  comer  of  Main  and  Sara- 
toga Streets,  in  the  space  still  known  as  the  "Quaker 
Burial  Ground,"  and  here  the  Friends  held  their  meet- 
ings and  flourished  for  over  sixty  years. 

Still  increasing  rapidly  in  numbers,  and  finding  their 
second  meeting-house  inconvenient,  owing  to  its  remote 
situation,  the  Friends  once  more,  in  1792,  determined 
to  build  a  still  larger  house  on  the  comer  of  Main  and 
Pleasant  Streets,  and,  in  the  building  of  this,  much  of 
the  material  of  the  former  house  was  utilized.  It  was 
a  spacious  building  of  two  stories,  fifty-six  feet  long 
and  thirty-eight  feet  wide,  and,  owing  to  its  size,  had 
on  several  occasions  been  used  as  a  courthouse,  and 
also  for  holding  the  annual  meetings  of  Nantucket 
Friends,  added  to  those  of  adjacent  or  affiliated  centers. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  (1792),  they  erected 
yet  another  meeting-house — the  fourth — in  order  to 
accommodate  the  northern  members.  This  was  situ- 
ated on  Broad  Street,  but  was  not  so  large  as  that  on 
Main  and  Pleasant  Streets.  The  membership  was 
divided  between  these  two  meeting-houses,  according 
to  locality  of  residence,  and  up  to  the  end  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  both  houses  were  filled  with  large  con- 
gregations, each  being  active,  vigorous,  and  flourishing. 
A   Nantucket   monthly   meeting   was   not   established 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  121 

until  1794;  and  the  monthly  meeting  was  the  real  source 
of  power  among  the  Friends. 

During  this  period,  the  success  of  the  Quaker  organ- 
ization reached  its  climax,  and  the  elders  had  secured 
a  hold  upon  the  islanders  such  as  no  other  religious 
denomination  had  ever  acquired.  They  professed  that 
although  in  the  world,  they  were  not  of  it,  and  therefore 
despised  and  spurned  every  form  of  worldliness,  al- 
though in  this  matter  they  were  frequently  inconsistent. 
They  were  rigidly  economical,  and  were  opposed  to  a 
paid  ministry,  or  to  the  slightest  extravagance  in 
outward  attire,  as  a  principle,  and  they  had  no  sym- 
pathy with  anything  calculated  to  make  earthly  life 
either  happy  or  even  pleasant;  but  they  were  absolute 
in  their  self-righteousness,  unnatural  in  their  formal- 
istic  aceticism,  and  as  time  wore  on  they  tightened  their 
authoritative  grasp  upon  all  concerned. 

Their  form  of  church  government  consisted  of  a 
select  committee  comprising  the  "unco  guid"  in  the 
community  and  connected  with  each  meeting-house; 
monthly  meetings  for  business  and  religious  purposes; 
quarterly  meetings,  at  which  the  agenda  of  monthly 
meetings  were  further  discussed,  and  to  which  all 
matters  concerning  the  monthly  meetings  were  reported ; 
and  yearly  meetings,  at  which  the  combined  power  and 
wisdom  of  the  organization  considered  and  determined 
the  discussions,  findings,  and  suggestions  of  the  various 
quarterly  meetings  "for  the  good  of  the  order." 

From  a  Hst  of  English  and  off-island  Friends  who  had 
visited  the  society  at  Nantucket  from  1698  to  1845 — 
the  year  when  the  "sorrowful  division"  took  place — it 
appears  that  Thomas  Chalkley,  from  England  (later 
of  Philadelphia),  visited  the  island  four  times,  viz:  in 
1698,  1704,  1713,  and  1737. 


122  Nantucket 

Phebe  Nichols,  afterwards  wife  of  James  Newbegin, 
in  June,  1746. 

John  Woolman,  in  June,  1747. 

Samuel  Fothergill,  Esq.,  in  1755. 

Elias  Hicks  (subsequent  Reformer),  1793. 

John  Wilbur,  of  Hopkinton,  Reformer,  1818,  1829, 
1836,  and  1839. 

Joseph  John  Gumey,  of  Norwich,  England,  Reformer, 
1838. 

Curiously  enough,  one  of  the  visitors  in  1793  was 
Benedict  Arnold  of  Smithfield.  The  name  of  Lucretia 
Mott  does  not  appear  at  all,  either  on  the  visitors' 
list,  or  on  an  official  "List  of  Female  Members  of 
Nantucket   Monthly   Meeting,"    dated    "8th   month, 

1851." 

Before  the  end  of  the  i8th  century,  when  the  popu- 
lation of  the  island  was  5617,  nearly  one-half  of  this 
number  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 

It  may  here  be  in  order  to  glance  rapidly  at  some  of 
the  intrinsic  causes  which,  originating  early  in  the  1 8th 
century,  became  gradually  more  potential  during  the 
19th  century,  and  ultimately  broke  up  and  completely 
disintegrated  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Nantucket. 
A  few  of  these  can  only  be  outlined  here  in  the  faintest 
manner;  but  fortunately  Henry  Barnard  Worth  has 
ably  described  the  strife  and  subsequent  divisions  which 
hastened  the  decline  of  Quakerism  on  Nantucket 
during  the  last  century  of  its  existence,  in  one  of  the 
Bulletins  of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association'  to 
which  the  attention  of  all  interested  in  the  matter  is 
specially  directed. 

For  some  years  after  the  beginning  of  the  17th  cen- 
tury the  Quaker  organization  was  flourishing  on  the 

'  Papers  of  Nantucket  Historical  Association,  vol.  i.,  bulletin  i. 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  123 

old  lines  although  their  members  had  been  thinned  by 
an  exodus  from  the  island,  by  the  War  of  18 12,  and  by 
the  institution  of  more  popular  sects.  Symptoms  of 
cleavage  had  also  manifested  themselves,  arising  from 
austere  and  uncompromising  discipline,  but  in  1827-28, 
a  great  schism,  which  arose  in  the  Philadelphia  yearly 
meeting,  almost  disrupted  the  organization,  and  caused 
a  permanent  division  in  the  American  branch  of  the 
society.  The  orthodox  party  protested  against  the 
heretical  teaching  of  Elias  Hicks,  which  threw  doubt 
upon  the  absolute  divinity  of  Christ,  and  the  full 
meaning  of  the  Atonement,  while  the  Hicksites  pro- 
tested against  unwarrantable  interference  with  the 
liberty  of  individual  belief.  The  division  was,  however, 
restricted  to  the  Friends  on  the  mainland,  and  did  not 
affect  Nantucket  until  1830. 

Elias  Hicks  was  a  farmer  in  Long  Island,  and  had 
for  many  years  been  a  Quaker  preacher,  with  a  well- 
deserved  reputation  as  an  orator.  In  1830,  a  preacher 
representing  Hicks's  views  came  to  Nantucket,  and 
those  who  sympathized  with  his  views  succeeded  in  ob- 
taining a  meeting-place;  so  successful  were  his  efforts 
that  many  of  those  who  heard  him, — including  a  number 
of  those  who  had  hitherto  been  staunch  supporters  of  the 
orthodox  sect, — were  convinced  by  his  preaching,  and 
broke  away  from  the  original  organization.  Popular 
interest  in  the  society  gradually  declined,  and  the 
membership  of  the  sect  was  by  degrees  becoming  less 
and  less.  On  May  13,  1829,  it  was  thought  advisable 
to  close  one  of  the  two  meeting-houses  which  had  been 
in  such  a  flourishing  condition  at  the  beginning  of  the 
century,  and  accordingly  the  house  in  Broad  Street, 
which  had  been  instituted  to  meet  the  convenience  of 
the  northern  section  of  the  society,  was  dissolved  and 


124  Nantucket 

the  remnant  of  members  was  transferred  to  the  older 
meeting-house  on  Main  Street. 

In  1833,  the  Hicksites,  who  became  affiliated  with 
the  Westbury  Quarterly  meeting  of  Long  Island,  pur- 
chased a  lot  on  Main  Street  on  which  in  1836,  or  1837, 
they  erected  a  large  meeting-house  where  they  met 
during  several  years,  but  with  gradually  decreasing 
congregations,  until  finally  the  building  was  sold. 
After  its  sale  it  was  known  as  Atlantic  Hall,  and  was 
used  for  various  secular  purposes. 

In  1833,  also,  the  orthodox  Friends  resolved  to  re- 
move from  their  meeting-house  on  Main  Street,  which 
was  no  longer  convenient,  and,  having  purchased  a  lot 
on  the  west  side  of  Fair  Street,  they  erected,  on  the 
southern  part  of  it,  a  large  two-story  building,  which 
was  opened  for  worship  during  September  of  that  year. 
A  little  to  the  north  was  another  building,  which  was 
utilized  as  a  school-house. 

The  old  meeting-house  on  Main  Street  was  sold 
and  removed  to  Commercial  Wharf  as  a  warehouse.' 

Up  to  1845  the  orthodox  Friends  continued  in  the 
old  paths,  but  in  addition  to  other  influences  their 
rigorous  disciplinary  code  was  gradually  reducing  their 
membership  more  and  more. 

For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  1832  a  new  schis- 
matic movement  had  been  gradually  spreading  itself 
among  the  members  of  the  society  generally  through 
the  teaching  of  Mr.  Joseph  John  Gumey,  an  educated 
Englishman  who,  although  belonging  to  an  old  Quaker 
family,  introduced  the  study  and  interpretation  of  the 
Bible  into  the  sect,  as  the  sole  guide  in  religion,  instead 
of  entire  dependence  upon  the  Holy  Spirit.  Gurney's 
powerful    and    persuasive    pleading    made    him    very 

'  H.  B.  Worth. 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  125 

popular  in  England,  as  well  as  in  America,  and  gained 
him  many  adherents,  and  in  him  the  orthodox  Quakers 
recognized  an  iconoclastic  opponent  far  more  dangerous 
than  Hicks  had  been.  Matters  came  to  a  climax  in 
the  New  England  Yearly  Meeting  at  Newport,  in  1845. 
After  thirty  years  of  a  severe  struggle,  and  although 
the  American  Friends  had  appointed  John  Wilbur  of 
Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  as  far  back  as  1838,  to  oppose  Gumey 
and  his  heretical  propaganda,  Gumey  had  carried  every- 
thing before  him  in  Great  Britain,  and  every  meeting 
he  addressed  had  approved  not  only  his  preaching  but 
his  teaching.  In  New  England,  however,  the  bitterest 
contest  was  waged,  and  the  Friends  became  divided 
into  Wilburites  and  Gumeyites.  Nantucket  favored 
the  Wilburites  and  stood  out  for  the  essential  of  the 
old  Quaker  faith;  and  when  the  division  took  place  in 
the  Nantucket  meeting  the  majority  was  found  to 
favor  the  Yv^ilburites, — the  only  section  which  had 
remained  faithful  to  the  old  principles  throughout 
New  England. 

A  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  with  regard  to  a 
division  of  property  favored  the  Gumeyites,  who 
demanded  from  the  Fair  Street  Friends  their  meeting- 
house, records,  and  other  property  in  accordance  with 
the  decision.     To  this  demand  no  reply  was  given. 

The  Gumeyites  therefore  sought  temporary  quar- 
ters, and  on  New  Year's  Day,  1846,  had  made  arrange- 
ments for  securing  Atlantic  Hall,  where  they  continued 
to  meet  until  November,  1850,  when  a  new  meeting- 
house, which  they  had  been  building,  was  ready  for 
occupation,  on  Centre  Street.  Here  they  remained 
until  1866,  when  all  their  property  was  transferred  to 
the  New  Bedford  Monthly  Meeting,  and  their  last 
meeting  was  held  on  January  10,  1867.     This  building 


126  Nantucket 

is  now  a  part  of  the  "Roberts  House"  property  and  is 
used  as  a  dining-room  in  connection  with  that  hotel. 

The  orthodox  members,  or  Wilburites,  after  1845, 
struggled  on  with  varying  success  until  1863,  when  the 
society  was  weak  and  dwindling.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances they  deemed  it  advisable  to  sell  their 
Fair  Street  meeting-house,  but  the  Centre  Street 
representatives  put  in  a  claim  against  it,  and  would  not 
allow  the  property  to  be  sold  without  their  permission. 
At  length  by  mutual  concessions  it  was  arranged  that 
the  deed  of  sale  should  be  signed  by  both  parties  and 
it  was  ultimately  sold  and  carried  off  the  island.  The 
north  part  of  the  property  was  repurchased  by  the  ortho- 
dox Friends,  and  the  building  that  had  been  used  as  a 
school-house  was  remodeled  into  a  meeting-house  in  1864. 

Only  one  member  of  the  Nantucket  orthodox  Friends 
resided  in  the  town  in  1894,  ^.nd  as  there  were  only 
twenty-three  persons  in  the  Nantucket  Monthly  Meet- 
ing altogether,  it  was  therefore  determined  to  sell  the 
meeting-house,  and,  in  June  of  this  year,  it  became  the 
property  of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association,  who 
still  hold  it  as  part  of  their  premises. 

Beginning  about  1700,  and  flourishing  for  a  century, 
—at  the  end  of  which  their  membership  amounted  to 
thousands, — at  the  end  of  another  century  their  last 
members,  William  Hosier,  in  1899,  and  Eunice  Paddock, 
in  1900,  both  died,  and  to-day  there  is  not  a  single 
representative  living  in  Nantucket.  Such  a  history 
as  this  surely  conveys  a  useful  lesson,  which  cannot 
be  better  formulated  than  in  the  following  apt  and 
forcible  words  by  Mr.  Henry  B.  Worth: 

...  If  they  had  established  a  better  proportioned  the- 
ology; if  they  had  not  obscured  or  undervalued  any  portion 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  127 

of  Divine  Truth,  wherever  revealed ;  if  they  had  abandoned 
their  discipline  and  allowed  the  laws  of  the  land  to  deal 
with  offenders ;  if,  instead  of  expelling  members  for  trivial 
offenses,  they  had  exercised  towards  them  a  wise  charity; 
if,  instead  of  maintaining  their  society  as  an  organization 
composed  of  men  and  women  who  never  departed  from 
rectitude,  it  had  been  regarded  as  a  portion  of  the  Church 
of  Christ,  in  which  were  men  and  women  of  every  degree 
of  moral  acquirements;  if  their  beautiful  system  of  sim- 
plicity had  been  built  on  the  rock,  and  not  on  sandy 
foundations  they  might  have  been  as  vigorous  to-day  as 
they  were  a  century  ago.^ 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that,  in  proportion  to  its 
numbers,  no  other  sect  has  so  influenced  public  opinion 
as  the  Quakers,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  parallel 
under  similar  circumstances  to  their  active  and  practical 
philanthropy.  The  consistent  purity  of  their  lives, 
and  their  united  protest  against  immoraHty  in  every 
form  have  had  a  restraining  and  civilizing  force  which 
can  be  compared  with  no  other  similar  movement  of 
modem  times;  but  they  became  too  prosperous  and 
this  resulted  in  the  development  of  a  tendency  towards 
arbitrariness  and  despotism  in  connection  with  the 
enforcement  of  their  disciplinary  code,  which  harassed 
and  ultimately  disgusted  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
membership. 

•  Quakerism,  in  its  essentials,  was  Utopian  and  reac- 
tionary— a  dream  of  spirituality  incompatible  with  the 
vital  experiences  and  intellectual  expansiveness  of 
humanity.  While  generally  law-abiding,  the  Quakers  1 
instituted  a  code  of  their  own  which  made  no  allowance  1 
for  the  conventionaHties  of  life  sanctioned  by  custom 
and  experience;  nor  did  they  recognize  the  recreative 

'  Optis  cit. 


128  Nantucket 

form  of  human  activity  or  the  usual  amenities  of  poHte 
societies;  in  fact,  their  narrow  and  inelastic  formalism 
excluded  the  rational  exercise  of  instinctive  pleasures 
to  a  vanishing  point. 

Acknowledging  no  duty  to  the  state,  and  holding  v 
themselves  aloof  from  all  the  political  duties  of  citizen-  ' 
ship,  they  outlawed  themselves  and  were  persecuted 
for  it;  but  among  their  own  people,  and  especially  in 
the   social   life   of   their   membership,   they   gradually  ' 
assumed  a  rigidity  of  discipline  which  eventually  became 
intolerable.     They   frowned    upon   music,   mirth,  and 
sports  of  every  kind,  and  even  dogmatized  as  to  the 
apparel  which  young  people  should  or  should  not  wear, 
and  to  every  infraction  of  their  Draconic  code  punish- , 
ment  was  invariably  meted  out;  while  in  everything^ 
concerning  love,  courtship,  and  marriage  they  adopted 
such   inquisitorial   espionage   as   in   these   latter   days 
would  have  caused  a  rebellion. 

Their  zeal  for  purity,  and  for  what  they  called  "the 
good  order  of  truth,"  was  doubtless  commendable,  but 
they  went  too  far,  and  failed  to  foresee  or  to  recognize 
the  spirit  of  tolerance  which  was  evolving  itself  in  all 
directions;  the  standard  of  ethics  which  they  imposed 
so  rigorously  was  far  too  high;  in  a  word,  they  sought 
to  oppose  the  rising  wave  of  intellectual  expansion 
which  was  gradually  overspreading  the  country,  by  a 
too  restrictive  formaHsm  in  faith  and  morals,  and 
thus  becoming  submerged  their  numbers  melted  away. 

Flattering  themselves  that  they  alone  enshrined  the 
"Inner  Light,"  the  Quakers  assumed  the  right  to  be- 
lieve that  all  who  remained  out  of  their  pale  were 
heterodox  and  heretical.  "Pride  goes  before  a  fall," 
and  thus,  becoming  autocratic  and  tyrannical,  they 
gradually  instituted  a  system  of  petty  despotism,  under 


Quakerism  in  Nantucket  129 

the  guise  of  discipline,  which,  even  at  the  cHmax  of 
their  success,  thinned  the  ranks  of  their  followers,  and 
later  disrupted  the  organization  altogether. 

Human  nature,  even  in  religious  matters,  is  much 
the  same  in  all  places  and  at  all  times.  The  Quakers 
but  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Pilgrims  and  the 
Puritans  who  preceded  them,  in  dictating  to  the  world 
what  was  right  and  what  was  wrong;  but  the  world 
still  goes  on,  buoyed  up  by  Hope.  Truth-seekers  are 
everywhere,  but 

God's  in  His  Heaven — 

All's  right  with  the  world. 

By  way  of  postscript  it  may  be  stated  that  the  first 
burial  ground  of  the  Quakers  was  situated  just  to  the 
west  of  Elihu  Coleman's  house  on  the  old  Madeket 
road,  but,  left  for  many  years  without  a  stone,  a  fence, 
or  any  kind  of  protection,  it  has  long  been  unrecogniz- 
able, and  no  one  could  imagine  that  it  had  ever  been 
a  place  of  interment. 

In  the  latest  burying  place  of  the  Quakers,  at  the 
corner  of  Upper  Main  and  Saratoga  Streets,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  small  markers  in  the  Hicksite  section, 
there  is  nothing  to  indicate  that,  beneath  the  weedy 
grass  of  the  enclosure,  between  nine  and  ten  thousand 
human  bodies  are  buried  without  even  a  flower  to 
mark  any  of  their  graves,  and  yet  there  is  none  of  the 
older  Nantucket  families  whose  ancestors  are  not 
sleeping  their  last  sleep  in  this  neglected  field. 
9 


CHAPTER  VIII 

NANTUCKET  RECORDS 

The  records  of  Nantucket  County  and  Town  cover 
a  period  of  nearly  250  years,  and  are  contained  in 
about  170  volumes  embracing 

Land  Transfers 
Vital  Statistics 
Court  Proceedings 
Probate  Records 
Town-AIeeting  Records 
Proprietors'  Records 
Financial  Transactions 

and  a  host  of  incidental  matters,  in  later  years  separated 
and  properly  classified,  but  in  the  early  days  wofully 
intermingled. 

From  1660  to  1693,  Nantucket  was  subject  to  the 
Province  of  New  York,  and  all  public  documents  were 
lodged  in  New  York  State  House  until  1795,  when  they 
were  transferred  to  Albany.  After  1692,  when  Nan- 
tucket was  ceded  to  Massachusetts,  all  such  papers 
were  sent  to  Boston,  where  they  remain  in  the  State 
House. 

In  1 67 1,  the  town  was  incorporated  under  a  Patent 

130 


Nantucket  Records  131 

from  Governor  Francis  Lovelace.  By  this  Patent  it 
was  authoritatively  decreed  that  certain  lands  were 
purchasable  from  the  Indians  by  the  English,  and  that 
such  purchases  would  be  ratified  and  confirmed  by  the 
English  King  and  Parliament. 

In  1687,  another  Patent  was  rendered  necessary  by 
the  capture  of  New  York  by  the  Dutch,  and  Dongan's 
Patent  was  issued  on  June  27,  1687.  By  this  document 
a  general  grant  of  the  entire  island  was  secured,  which 
rendered  unnecessary  the  provisions  imposed  by  Love- 
lace's Patent  with  regard  to  the  English  being  com- 
pelled to  have  all  purchases  from  the  Indians  fully 
confirmed ;  and  thus  were  consolidated  all  the  privileges 
granted  by  previous  Patents  on  a  basis  which  secured 
all  the  island's  municipal  rights. 

In  1692,  Nantucket,  with  the  adjacent  islands,  re- 
verted to  the  governance  of  Massachusetts  Province 
in  accordance  with  a  special  act  of  Parliament,  and  in 
the  following  year  all  grants  previously  made  with  the 
sanction  of  the  governors  of  New  York  were  confirmed 
by  a  law  of  the  General  Court,  and  thus  all  land- 
rights  vested  in  the  settlers  were  fully  secured  and 
confirmed  by  Dongan's  Patent,  wh.ch  was  indeed 
their  Magna  Charta.  This  voluminous  document 
is  copied  in  full  in  Hough's  Book  of  Nantucket 
Deeds,  and  the  original  may  be  seen  in  the  Nantucket 
Registry. 

Fortunately  all  the  deeds  and  papers  concerning 
Nantucket,  which  were  transferred  to  the  State  capital 
at  Albany  in  1795,  were  copied  and  published  by  Mr. 
Hough  of  the  Secretary  of  State's  office,  in  1856, 
and  a  list  of  the  principal  documents  is  herewith 
reproduced  ^ : 

'Hough's  Papers  Relating  to  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  1856. 


132  Nantucket 

Passing  over  some  deeds  concerning  Martha's 
Vineyard,  and  others  already  given  or  referred  to  in 
this  volume,  there  are  several  grants  or  disposals  of 
land  upon  Nantucket,  dated  from  1659  to  1670,  with 
regard  to,  inter  alia,  the  prescribed  limits  of  house-lots, 
the  bestowal  of  several  half-shares,  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  seaman,  a  weaver  (Thomas  Macy),  a  shoe- 
maker (Joseph  Gardner),  and  a  "Taylour"  (Nathaniel 
Holland). 

Next,  Captain  John  Gardner's  grant  as  a  seaman, 
dated  August  15,  1672.  Governor  Francis  Lovelace's 
"Notice  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Nantucket,"  etc.,  calling 
upon  them  to  make  proof  of  their  claims,  etc.,  dated 
May  16,  1670,  and  a  certificate  of  appointment  of 
Tristram  Coffin  to  appear  for  them,  dated  April  2, 
1671. 

The  proposals  of  the  Nantucketers  about  set- 
tling the  government  to  the  governor  (undated: 
Deeds,  iii.,  59.  Secretary's  office),  and  the  gov- 
ernor's answers  to  above  proposals,  dated  June  28, 
1671. 

Commission  granted  to  Tristram  Coffin  as  Chief 
Magistrate,  June  29,  1671. 

Instructions  to  Mr.  Mayhew,  as  Governor  and  Chief 
Magistrate  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  to  consult  and  co- 
operate with  Tristram  Coffin  as  Chief  Magistrate  of 
Nantucket:  undated.  {Deeds,  iii.,  71.  Secretary's 
office.) 

Additional  instructions  and  directions  for  govern- 
ment of  island  of  Nantucket,  sent  by  Richard  and  John 
Gardner,  April  18,  1673. 

License  to  purchase  lands  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing "a  fishing  trade"  upon  Nantucket.  Dated, 
April  15,  1673. 


Nantucket  Records  133 

Richard  Gardner's  Commission  as  Chief  Magistrate 
of  Nantucket  and  "  Tuckanuckett,"  April  15,  1673. 

Commission  of  John  Gardner  to  be  Captain  of  Foot 
Company  on  the  island.     April  15,  1673. 

Letter  from  Secretary  to  inhabitants  of  Nantucket 
dated  April  24,  1673,  acknowledging  receipt  of  "8 
barrells  of  ffish  for  two  yeares,"  and  a  token  of  "fifty 
weight  of  ffeathers,"  etc. 

A  Petition  from  Tristram  Coffin  and  Mr.  Mayhew 
{Colonial  MSS.,  xxiv.,  secretary's  office)  with  regard 
to  interpretation  of  charter. 

Thomas  Mayhew  to  Governor  Andros,  as  to  Gorge's 
Patent,  etc.,  April  12,  1665. 

A  petition  from  Nantucket  to  Governor  Andros, 
praying  that  the  liberties  and  rights  conferred  upon 
them  by  Governor  Lovelace's  charter  "may  not  be 
impaired  or  diminished  by  any  pretence  of  other  aver- 
saries  whatsoever." 

Sharborn,  the  12  Aprill,  1675. 

An  order  to  the  Magistrates  of  Nantucket  for  per- 
mitting searches  and  copies  of  their  records  to  be 
taken. 

E.  Andros,  April  17,  1675. 

Petition  and  proposals  from  Tristram  Coffin  and 
Mr.  Mayhew  (dated  April  7,  1675),  to  the  Governor 
as  to  charter  rights. 

Petition  of  Magistrates  and  others  of  Nantucket  to 
Governor  Andros,  concerning  same.  Dated  April 
28,  1675. 

Instructions  and  orders  for  establishing  Courts  and 
Prudential  Bye-Laws  in  Martin's  Vineyard  and  Nan- 
tucket, from  Governor  Andros,  dated  April  25,  1675. 
"To  Governor  Andros" 

"Petition    from    Peter    Foulger    about    proceedings 


134  Nantucket 

at  the    General  Court  of   Martin's  Vineyard,   1676." 
Dated  "from  Shearburn  as  a  prisoner,  March  2^] ,  167!." 

Letter  from  Thomas  Macy  to  the  Governor,  dated 
May  9,  1676,  concerning  the  drinking  habits  of  the 
natives. 

Letter  from  John  Gardner  to  the  Governor,  during 
the  "insurrectionary  period,"  dated  15th  March,  1677. 

Sentence  of  Captain  John  Gardner  (for  refusing  to 
appear  at  the  Quarter  Court,  after  being  summoned), 
disfranchising  him,  and  fining  him  £10. 

Appeal  of  John  Gardner:  undated  (iV.  Y.  Col.  MSS., 
xxvi.,  sec.  office). 

Decision  of  case  of  John  Gardner. 

"At  a  Councell,  August  3d,  1677." 

Order  about  John  Gardner  and  Peter  Ffoulger, 
Septr.  21,  1677. 

Decision  of  a  Court  of  Admiralty  held  at  Nantucket 
with  reference  to  Tristram  Coffin's  having  sold  part 
of  a  derelict. 

Tristram  Coffin  to  Governor  Andros,  Nantucket, 
August  30,  1680. 

A  discharge  of  Tristram  Coffin  from  the  judgment 
of  the  Court  of  Admiralty  compounded.  Dated  6th 
of  November,  1680. 

Charges  against  Joseph  Coleman  for  "revilling  and 
reprochefull  speaches  against  authority."  March  25, 
1864. 

Commission  for  pursuing  a  Pirate.  Signed  by  Gov- 
ernor Dongan. 

March  30,  1685, 

Petition  of  Stephen  Hussey  (New  York,  August  12, 
1686),  about  ten  or  eleven  gallons  of  Rum  of  which 
Joseph  Gardner  forcibly  dispossessed  him. 

Dongan's  Patent,  dated  June  2y,  1687. 


Nantucket  Records  135 

TOWN  RECORDS^ 

From  1 66 1  to  1671  (when  the  town  was  incorporated 
in  accordance  with  Lovelace's  Patent),  whatever  govern- 
ment was  in  force  on  the  island  was  exercised  entirely 
and  absolutely  by  the  landowners.  The  settlers  had 
previously  applied  to  the  Governor  of  New  York,  and 
made  certain  proposals  about  a  settled  government 
{Deeds,  iii.,  59,  Secretary's  Office),  and,  in  answer  to 
these  proposals,  "at  a  Councell  held  at  Forte  James  in 
New  York,  ye  28th  day  of  June  in  ye  23d  years  of  his 
Ma 'ties  Reigne  Annoq  Dom.  1671"  the  Governor  sug- 
gested the  formation  of  a  General  Court  consisting  of 
two  Chief  Magistrates,  one  in  Martha's  Vineyard  and 
the  other  in  Nantucket, — one  acting  as  President  in 
each  Court,  and  acting  in  concert  together,  with  two 
Assistants  in  each  place.  With  additional  instructions 
and  directions  a  form  of  government  was  thus  consti- 
tuted, and  the  town  being  duly  organized  and  incor- 
porated the  inhabitants  met  periodically  to  transact 
municipal  business. 

The  Town  Records  were  instituted  in  1699,  and  now 
consist  of  some  twenty  volumes  in  addition  to  nine  or 
ten  volumes  of  Vital  Statistics.  They  contain  the 
records  of  the  Town-meetings  and  therefore  the  pro- 
posals, votes,  discussions,  and  resolutions  of  all  the 
town  business, — the  appointments  of  all  municipal 
and  county  officers — the  votes  for  Governor,  Senator, 
and   Representative,   all   appropriations   of   municipal 

'  In  the  compilation  of  this  chapter  the  writer  acknowledges  his 
indebtedness  to  the  State  Library,  New  York,  the  State  Library,  Boston, 
Hough's  Pap^/'S  concerning  Nantucket,  H.  Barnard  Worth's  Nantucket 
Lands  and  Landowners,  Dr.  C.  E.  Banks's  History  of  Martha's  Vineyard, 
and  principally  to  the  courtesy  of  the  departmental  staff  of  the  Nan- 
tucket Public  Record  offices. 


136  Nantucket 

funds,  the  selection  of  petty  and  grand  jurors,  and  every- 
thing concerning  the  government,  regulation,  and 
administration  of  the  town. 

Before  a  separate  book  was  kept  for  recording  the 
town-meetings'  business  and  ordinances,  viz:  from 
1662-99,  the  limitations  of  space  will  prevent  anything 
but  the  most  meager  reference  to  the  matters  recorded. 
Fortunately  none  of  the  entries  is  of  much  historical 
importance. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  1663  it  was  ordered  that  "no 
man  shall  fell  or  make  use  of  any  timber  on  Cowatu 
(Coatue),  except  it  be  for  building  houses,  upon  the 
penalty  of  ten  shillings  for  every  tree  impred  to  any 
other  use." 

On  September,  1664,  at  a  meeting  of  the  town  it 
was  ordered  that  "the  clerk  shall  have  for  his  wages 
twenty  shillings  p.  Ann.  beginning  at  ye  yeere  62." 

Again  later  (1667).  "Every  Indian  to  kill  his  dogs 
before  March  loth  or  be  fined." 

November  20,  1669.  Stephen  Coffin  to  keep  the 
pound  "when  once  there  is  a  lock  to  it,  and  he  is  to 
have  twopence  a  time  for  turning  the  key  to  lock  or 
unlock  the  pound." 

November  30, 1 670 .  "No  hogs  to  be  placed  upon  any 
land  belonging  to  any  Indiand." 

October  16,  1671.  "Thomas  Macy  to  have  five 
pounds  for  going  to  New  York." 

January  19,  1679.  "The  town-meeting  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Nathaniel  Barnard."' 

And  so  on  until  1699. 

The  earliest  vital  statistics  are  also  found  among  the 
town  records,  thus:   The  first  death  recorded  on  the 

'  A  few  more  quotations  from  early  Town  Records  may  be  found  in 
Chapter  XV. 


Nantucket  Records  137 

island  was  that  of  Jean  Godfrey,  afterwards  Bunker, 
wife  of  Richard  Swain,  who  died  October  31,  1662. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  Mary,  daughter  of  Natha- 
niel Starbuck,  who  was  bom  March  30,  1663. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  William  Worth  and 
Sarah  Macy,  on  April  11,  1665. 

At  a  Town-meeting  held  at  Sherbom,  January  17, 
1784,  it  was  voted  "that  the  workhouse  near  the  jail 
be  repaired."  This  was  presumably  on  the  lot  still 
occupied  by  the  jail  v/hich  was  erected  in  1775. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  "that  our  repre- 
sentatives be  entrusted  to  move  for  a  Light-house  to 
be  erected  on  the  end  of  our  large  Point,  called  Sandy 
Point,  in  the  next  sessions  of  the  General  Court." 

Also  that  "the  selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  rent 
out  the  Town-House  for  any  Term  not  exceeding  one 
year  for  a  school-house  to  such  person  and  upon  such 
a  Term  as  they  shall  think  proper  during  the  recess 
of  public  business." 

At  a  meeting  at  Sherbom,  July  2"],  1785,  "The  votes 
for  a  County  Register  were  brought  in  and  bundled 
up  in  order  to  be  opened  next  Court." 

The  following  is  selected  from  a  Report  of  the  Finance 
Committee  for  1850,  and  appears  on  p.  149  of  Town 
Records  for  1849-52: 

The  undersigned  regret  the  absence  of  their  comrades, 
the  only  two  gentlemen  who  signed  the  Financial  report 
of  last  year,  and  who  were  also  members  of  this  Committee, 
one  of  whom,  beloved  by  all,  has  quietly  passed  away  to 
that  "bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  returns." 

The  absence  of  the  other  gentleman,  owing  to  his  having 
left  the  island,  is  alluded  to  in  language  equally  rhetorical. 


138  Nantucket 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Firewards  contains 
the  following  on  page  116  of  Records  for  1849-52. 
After  providing  for  the  licensing  of  dogs : 

It  is  hereby  further  instituted,  resolved,  and  enacted  that 
the  Selectmen  be,  and  they  are  hereby  requested,  authorised, 
and  empowered  to  appoint  and  employ  one  or  more  judi- 
cious and  discreet  men  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  kill  and 
destroy  all  and  any  dogs  and  puppies  of  the  canine  species 
which  may  be  found  running  at  large  without  collars, 
provided  that  it  be  done  in  as  quiet  and  humane  manner 
as  possible,  and  as  much  as  can  be  conveniently  done  away 
from  the  more  compact  part  of  the  town,  and  the  presence 
of  the  citizens  generally. 

What  follows  is  selected  from  a  Report  of  the  Health 
Committee  in  the  same  volume,  and  it  speaks  for  itself. 

After  animadverting  upon  measures  to  restrain  the 
public  use  of  alcohol,  the  report  goes  on  to  say: 

How  different  it  would  have  been  if  our  supposed  wise  had 
have  been  really  wise  enough,  have  turned  their  attention 
to  the  consideration  of  the  best  interest  of  their  constituents 
by  endeavoring  to  find  out  some  method  to  preserve  the 
public  health  and  morals  and  prevent  and  assuage  that  rag- 
ing pestilence  which  still  scatters  its  ruinous  consequences 
throughout  our  State;  and  among  the  least  of  its  evils 
costs  every  community  a  large  proportion  of  its  annual 
earnings:  had  they  have  done  this  Massachusetts  might 
now  have  worn  the  brightest  jewel  that  ever  adorned  any 
State  or  nation ;  that  jewel  is  now  worn  by  her  noble  sister 
daughter,  the  State  of  Maine,  and  well  may  the  son  of  that 
thrice-honored  Commonwealth  walk  erect  and  feel  that 
they  have  indeed  attained  a  preeminence,  a  glory  beyond 
all  Grecian,  beyond  all  Roman  fame. 

The  Old  Bay  State  should  have  won  it,  'twas  her's,  and 
it  would  have  been  her's  but  that  too  many  of  her  noble 


Nantucket  Records  139 

sons  were  diverted  from  the  pursuit  of  pure  glory,  by  the 
petty,  party  interests  of  the  day,  old  hunker  conservatism 
and  the  preservation  of  old  errors  on  the  one  hand,  and 
truck  dicker  and  gluten  on  the  other;  but,  let  it  pass,  her 
daughters  achieved  the  true  Kohinoor,  mountain  of  light, 
compared  to  which  that  all  the  World's  Fair  is  but  a-bauble. 
We  speak  of  the  acquisition  of  this  honorable  fame  by  our 
sister  State  only  in  relation  to  the  conservation  of  public 
health  which  though  not  its  most  blessed  consequence,  yet 
it  is  only  secondary  to  that  purity  of  heart  which  it  may 
reasonably  be  hoped  will  prevail  wherever  alcohol  is  not 
used  as  a  common  beverage,  but  when  it  is  so  used,  never, 
no  never. 

From  which  it  appears  that  there  was  much  Prohibi- 
tion eloquence  in  those  earlier  days! 

The  Town  Records  have  been  well-preserved,  and 
are  in  excellent  order.  It  only  remains  to  be  said  that 
they  contain  much  interesting  and  entertaining  matter. 

The  first  volume  of  the  Selectmen's  Journal,  beginning 
April  9,  1784 — the  only  volume  accessible  of  an  early 
date — is  preserved  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office,  and  is 
all  the  more  interesting  and  valuable  inasmuch  as  the 
subsequent  early  journals  are  missing.  Its  contents, 
however,  are  of  little  historical  importance,  consisting 
mainly  of  receipted  bills,  permits,  town  warrants,  etc. 

COURT  RECORDS 

The  first  Nantucket  court  records  are  contained  in 
Book  2,  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds,  and  the  first  entry  is 
dated  September  21,  1672.  As  the  settlers  took  posses- 
sion of  the  island  eleven  years  previously,  it  is  reason- 
able to  surmise  that  a  court  of  some  kind  must  have 
been  instituted  and  records  duly  kept  before  1672, 
especially  as  the  Indians  had  to  be  kept  in  subjection, 


I40  Nantucket 

and  many  cases,  doubtless,  occurred  among  the  whites 
and  the  aborigines,  and  between  the  Indians  themselves, 
if  not  among  the  whites,  which  would  necessitate  ju- 
dicial intervention.  However,  no  court  records  of  any 
kind,  concerning  the  earliest  administration  of  the 
island,  have  been  discovered. 

The  absence  of  such  records  is  accounted  for  by  the 
fact  that  there  was  a  feud,  beginning  in  1673  and  con- 
tinuing for  some  years,  between  two  parties  of  the 
islanders,  one  section  being  partisans  of  Tristram  Coffin, 
and  the  other  of  John  Gardner,  who  were  implacable 
rivals.  Peter  Coffin  had  been  elected  Assistant  Magis- 
trate and  Peter  Folger  (who  was  clerk  of  the  writs  and 
recorder  to  the  General  Court  of  the  island)  resented 
the  appointment,  and  "refused  to  perform  the  func- 
tions required  of  him  by  the  Chief  Magistrate."  Folger 
refused  to  produce  his  "Court  Booke,"  and  he  was 
indicted  for  contempt,  and  bound  over  in  £20  to  appear 
at  the  New  York  Assizes.  Finding  no  bondsmen,  he 
was  placed  in  prison  whereof  he  writes : 

A  place  where  never  any  Englishman  was  put,  and  where 
the  Neighbors  Hoge  had  layd  but  the  night  before,  and  in  a 
bitter  cold  Frost  and  deep  Snow.  They  had  only  thrown 
out  most  of  the  Durt  Hoge  Dung  and  vSnow.  The  Rest  the 
Constable  told  me  I  might  ly  upon  if  I  would,  that  is  upon 
the  Boards  in  that  Case,  and  without  victuals  or  Fire. 
Indeed  I  perswaded  him  to  fetch  a  little  Hay,  and  he  did 
so,  and  some  Friend  did  presently  bring  in  some  Beding 
and  Victuals. 

He  was  imprisoned  on  February  14,  1677,  and  in 
June  of  that  year  the  missing  court  records  had  not 
been  produced ;  and  it  was  not  until  about  two  months 
later  that  Governor  Andros  ordered  his  release. 


Nantucket  Records  141 

Whether  the  book  was  destroyed  or  not  is  unknown, 
nor  has  it  ever  apparently  been  discovered,  notwith- 
standing a  report  that  the  missing  book  had  been 
found.  The  writer  has  taken  pains  to  find  out  if  there 
were  any  truth  in  the  report,  but  no  member  of  the 
official  staff  at  the  town  offices  had  ever  heard  of  such 
a  discovery. 

This  "Little  Record  Book"  doubtless  contained  the 
court  records  from  1661  to  1672  or  after,  and  its  loss 
has  been  acutely  felt.  It  is  believed  that  all  the  other 
records  in  every  department  are  practically  perfect  and 
complete. 

As  has  already  been  referred  to,  a  judicial  tribunal 
to  be  elected  annually  was  established  in  1672,  in 
accordance  with  Governor  Lovelace's  order  of  June 
28,  1671,  and  was  regularly  sustained  until  1692. 

In  1672  Richard  Gardner  was  elected  Chief  Magistrate. 

In  1673  Thomas  Macy  was  elected  Chief  Magistrate. 

In  1674  Tristram  Coffin  was  elected  Chief  Magis- 
trate. 

In  1675  John  Gardner  was  elected  Chief  Magistrate. 

In  1673  Peter  Folger  was  appointed  Clerk,  and, 
after  his  imprisonment,  William  Worth  succeeded  to 
the  appointment. 

In  addition  to  the  above  offices  there  were  nine 
Assistant  Magistrates  or  Deputy  Justices.  ^ 

The  Court,  as  above  constituted,  had  plenary  juris- 
diction over  "all  matters  civil,  criminal,  probate,  and 
appeal  from  Indian  Courts,  in  which  the  penalty  did 
not  involve  forfeiture  of  life."^ 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  established  in  1 720. 
The  Records  consist  of  twelve  volumes  up  to   19 12, 

'  H.  Barnard  Worth,  opus  ciL,  p.  io6.  '  Ibid.,  p.  107. 


142  Nantucket 

Volume  I  containing  records  dated  from  October  5, 
1725,  to  October  4,  1785;  and  Volume  2  containing 
records  from  March  28,  1786,  to  December  28,  1802. 

REGISTRY  OF  DEEDS  (cOUNTY  RECORDS) 

Exclusive  of  plans  and  indices  these  records  are  con- 
tained in  volumes  numbered  from  i  to  95. 

Volumes  1,2,  and  3  are  the  most  important  because 
they  contain  most  of  the  early  historical  matter. 

Volume  I  contains  land  transfers  for  the  most  part, 
records  of  early  town-meetings,  court  matters,  allot- 
ments of  land,  etc.  The  first  deed  recorded  is  dated 
1659.  Up  to  page  77  the  book  consists  of  ordinances 
relating  to  the  organization  of,  and  laws  for,  town 
management  at  town-meetings.  These  were  first 
described  as  meetings  of  freeholders,  but  subsequently 
as  of  trustees  or  selectmen.  The  remaining  two- 
thirds  of  the  book  (which  is  inverted  from  page  i  to 
109)  consists  mainly  of  transfers  and  sets-off  of  land 
dating  from  1664. 

It  is  impossible  here  to  chronicle  the  various  deeds, 
but  they  have  all  been  copied  by  Mr.  H.  Barnard 
Worth,  and  the  copies  at  some  future  time  will  be  de- 
posited at  the  rooms  of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Asso- 
ciation. A  few  of  the  more  important  deeds  may  be 
enumerated  here,  viz:  The  conveyance  of  the  island 
of  Tuckernuck  to  Tristram  Coffin  et  alt:  by  Governor 
Lovelace,  on  June  29,  1671 ;  the  deed  appointing  Tris- 
tram Coffin  as  Chief  Magistrate,  instead  of  Thomas 
Macy,  by  Governor  Andros,  dated  September  15,  1677. 

The  protest  of  Spotso  and  other  Indians  against  the 
English  settlers  for  placing  them  at  a  disadvantage 
with  regard  to  their  lands  (undated). 


Nantucket  Records  143 

Deed  annexing  Tuckernuck  to  Nantucket,  June  6, 

1713- 

Protest  and  petition  of  Seikinnou  and  Spotso  to 
Lord  Bellamont,  concerning  transactions  with  the 
settlers. 

Curiously  enough  among  these  deeds  is  included  an 
ordinance  of  the  freeholders,  dated  at  their  meeting 
held  on  December  31,  1686,  to  the  effect  that  owing  to 
sheep  having  been  chased  on  the  island  by  dogs,  all 
dogs  must  in  future  be  muzzled;  and  that,  whether 
muzzled  or  not,  all  dogs  found  harrying  sheep  should 
in  future  be  killed. 

Book  2  contains  items  of  court  procedure,  land 
transfers,  and  lay-outs. 

Passing  over  the  court  proceedings,  the  deed  of 
sale  of  the  west  part  of  the  island  by  the  Indians  to 
Tristram  Coffin  et  alt:  is  recorded,  bearing  date  May 
10,  1660. 

There  are  also  numerous  Indian  deeds,  a  few  being 
written  in  the  Indian  language. 

Matthew  May  hew' s  renunciation  of  Nantucket 
property,  January  6,  172I. 

Thomas  Macy's  deed  conveying  to  his  son  one- 
fourth  part  of  his  land,  etc.     December  13,  1675. 

Tristram  Coffin's  deed  conveying  one-fourth  of  his 
house-lot  "at  Cappamet,"  etc.,  to  his  son,  John  Coffin. 
May  12,  1677. 

Tristram  Coffin's  gift  of  land  to  his  grandchildren. 
October  3,  1678. 

Up  to  page  80  this  book  consists  mainly  of  transfers 
of  land,  from  July  21,  1673,  to  June  9,  1674,  After 
page  80  the  contents  of  the  book  are  inverted  and  paged 
from  I  to  47,  consisting  of  court  records  from  July  19, 
1673,  to  March  27,  1705. 


144  Nantucket 

Of  the  Court  proceedings  the  following  will  serve  as 
an  example: 

The  sentence  of  the  Court  is  that  Edward  Cowles  shall 
be  soundly  whipt,  and  to  go  away  from  the  island  on  the 
same  vessall  that  he  came  in.  And  when  he  is  a  board  the 
vessall  he  is  not  to  come  a  shore  upon  the  penalty  of  being 
whipt  every  time  that  he  com  a  shore. 

Peter  Folger's  sentence  for  contempt  of  court  appears 
on  page  lo;  also  the  case  of  Quensh,  an  Indian,  who 
sued  his  wife  for  divorce,  which  he  obtained,  and  the 
woman  was  fined  twenty  shilHngs  "in  regard  to  his 
trobell." 

Thus  minor  charges  are  dealt  with  page  after  page, 
many  of  them  concerning  misconduct  of  the  Indians. 

On  page  26  is  the  appointment  of  John  Gardner  "as 
true  and  LawfuU  Aturney"  to  Governor  Andros,  dated 
November  16,  1680,  and  John  Gardner's  appointment 
as  Magistrate,  on  June  26,  1680,  by  Governor  Andros, 
followed  by  oath  to  be  taken  on  appointment. 

On  page  29  is  Governor  Andros's  release  of  John 
Gardner  as  to  the  fine  and  disfranchisement  inflicted 
upon  him,  and  the  sentence  declared  null  and  void, 
dated  October  10,  1680. 

On  page  30,  an  order  by  Governor  Andros  that  a 
Court  of  Sessions  (separate  from  each  other)  shall  be 
held  at  Martha's  Vineyard  and  at  Nantucket,  dated 
October  10,  1680,  as  requested  by  John  Gardner  and 
Matthew  Mayhew. 

On  page  31  is  John  Gardner's  appointment  as  Chief 
Magistrate  of  Nantucket,  signed  by  Governor  Andros, 
and  dated  November  10,  1680. 

The  last  court  entry  in  Volume  2  is  dated  March 
27,  1705,  on  page  47. 


Nantucket  Records  145 

Book  3  consists  of  land  transfers  from  page  2  to  149, 
the  date  of  first  record  being  May  6,  1708,  the  last 
March  29,  1720.  Many  of  the  earlier  deeds  in  this 
book  were  not  recorded  until  a  number  of  years  after 
their  execution;  for  example:  one  on  page  10  was  exe- 
cuted on  March  2,  1696,  by  Stephen  Hussey,  arid  was 
not  recorded  until  June  14,  1700,  Another  executed 
by  Peter  CofBn,  September  10,  1697,  was  not  re- 
corded until  June  10,  1700;  and  another  (page  2), 
executed  by  William  Worth  on  May  2,  1704,  was  not 
recorded  until  July  17,  1708.  A  deed  from  Wauwinet 
transferring  land  to  Paul  Noose  (page  4),  although 
executed  on  October  2,  1689,  was  not  recorded  until 
August  9,  1708. 

One  deed  (on  page  3),  purporting  to  conve}^  a  dwel- 
ling-house and  land  by  Robert  Evans,  carpenter,  to 
Jonathan  Pinkham,  and  dated  merely  "the  i8th  of 
August,"  without  specifying  any  year,  has  neither  been 
duly  executed  nor  recorded. 

Some  of  these  deeds  are  written  in  the  obscure  and 
perplexing  autography  of  John  Gardner,  and  are  almost 
undecipherable. 

Many  of  the  ear-marks,  which  were  used  to  distin- 
guish the  sheep  belonging  to  different  owners  are 
recorded  on  pages  53,  54,  55,  56,  58,  61,  62,  and  66, 
and  consisted  of  various  devices  cut  in  the  ears  of  the 
sheep. 

On  page  60  is  a  deed  executed  by  the  original  pur- 
chasers of  Horse  Commons  from  the  Indians,  and  in 
this  ("in  order  to  avoid  any  contention  or  strife  which 
might  hereafter  arise  between  us"),  we  "fully  and 
absolutely  give  up  our  claim  to  all  such  privileges  .  .  . 
unto  the  inhabitants,  freeholders  of  Nantucket,  accord- 
ing to  their  several  and  respective  shares,  reserving  to 


146  Nantucket 

ourselves  no  more  than  our  just  and  respective  pro- 
portion in  common  with  the  rest." 

This  is  signed  by  twenty-two  original  purchasers, 
executed  in  171 1,  and  recorded  January  16,  17x2- 

Many  of  these  deeds  are  executed  by  Indians  as  on 
pages  63,  64,  65,  etc. 

On  inverting  the  book  there  are  some  records  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  unpaged,  and  beginning 
October  7,  1701,  evidently  in  the  handwriting  of  John 
Gardner,  the  primary  records  ending  March  30,  1708. 

To  these  succeed  a  num^ber  of  records  of  marriages, 
occupying  about  one  page  and  a  quarter,  and  dated 
from  January  8,  1700,  to  August  5,  17 12,  twenty  mar- 
riages altogether,  and  all  performed  by  William  Worth, 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Beginning  on  October  5,  1708,  are  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  records,  the  last  ending  March  28  or  29,  1721. 

Book  IV.  Land  transfers  are  recorded  from  April 
24,  1 72 1,  to  January  29,  1744. 

On  pages  64  and  87  are  records  which  are  written 
in  the  Indian  language,  and  on  page  93  the  first  Indian 
deed  is  recorded,  being  the  transfer  of  a  tract  of  land 
in  "the  Plain  Country"  from  Nickanoose  and  Nana- 
huma  to  Thomas  Mayhew,  executed  June  20,  1659, 
but  not  recorded  until  March  26,  1731.  It  seems  to 
have  remained  in  the  hands  of  Mayhew  and  his  family 
until  the  Indians  appealed  to  the  General  Court  to 
recover  their  lands,  when  the  owners  of  Nantucket 
found  the  old  deed,  and  placed  it  on  record. 

The  Registry  of  Deeds  also  contains  the  list  of  Nan- 
tucket streets  compiled  by  Isaac  Coffin  in  1799. 

The  following  record  is  quoted  from  the  Registry 
as  interesting,  inasmuch  as  the  locality  of  the  "hors 
Commonage"  transferred  is  not  mentioned  in  the  deed: 


Nantucket  Records  147 

This  Bargain  and  sale  made  the  27th  day  of  June,  1701, 
Witnesseth  that  Moamug,  an  Indian  of  Nantucket  have 
bargained  and  solde  unto  Mira  on  hors  Commonage  or 
pasturage  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket  for  a  valuable  consid- 
eration by  Mira  payde,  the  Recept  wherof  i  do  acknowledg 
to  my  full  satisfaction  and  Content  befor  the  Signing  and 
Sealing  of  these  presance  I  Moamug  aforesaid  do  therfor 
Sell,  Alline,  Rattifie  and  Confirme  pasuredg  or  Liberty  for 
the  keeping  on  hors  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket  unto — 
Mira  aforesaid,  to  him  his  heirs  and  Asigns  for  Ever  to 
Have  and  to  Holde  and  peaceably  to  Injoy  the  Said  Liberty 
to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  for  Ever  hearby  binding  me  my 
heirs  and  assignes  for  Ever  to  Warantise  and  defend  said 
Sale  and  Liberty  against  any  person  or  person  whatsoever 
Laying  Claim  thereto  by,  from,  or  under  me,  in  witnes 
whear  of  i  have  put  to  my  hand  and  Seal  the  day  and  year 
above  Written. 

Signed  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  us 

„-.,  William  Gayer  Moomak  LS 

Witness:      ,  „ 

Isaac  Colman 

The  above  Written  Instrument  was  Acknowledged  by 

Moamak  to  be  his  ackt  and  deed  on  Nantucket  July  ye  9, 

befor  me 

William  Gayer 

Justice  Peace. 

Recorded,  August  13th.  Seventeen  hundred  and  one. 

proprietors'  records 

A  meeting  of  the  original  ten  purchasers  was  held 
at  Salisbury,  in  1659,  when  it  was  adopted  that  each 
of  the  ten  should  be  permitted  to  select  a  partner,  thus 
increasing  their  number  to  twenty :  it  was  also 

determined  and  concluded  that  no  man  whatsoever  shall 
purchase  any  land  of  any  of  the  Indians  upon  the  sd.  yland 
for  his  own  or  other  private  or  pticular  use,  but  whatsoever 


148  Nantucket 

purchase  shall  be  made  shall  be  for  ye  general  accompt  of 
ye  twenty  owners  or  purchasers.  And  whatsoever  pson 
shall  purchase  any  land  upon  any  other  accompt  it  shall  be 
accompted  void  and  null,  except  what  is  done  by  license 
from  ye  sd.  owners  or  purchasers. 

In  pursuance  of  this  order  they  were  enabled  to 
prevent  any  one  outside  of  the  Proprietary  from  pur- 
chasing land  from  the  Indians,  and  "this  policy  was 
strictly  followed  by  the  English  until  every  foot  of 
land  on  the  island  had  been  conveyed  by  the  red-men 
to  the  Proprietary."'  Much  confusion  was,  however, 
created  later  when,  in  1692,  Nantucket  was  annexed 
to  Massachusetts  and  became  subject  to  its  laws,  and 
the  monopoly  hitherto  vested  in  the  Proprietors  had 
to  be  shared  with  the  other  citizens,  and  when,  in 
addition  to  the  freeholders,  the  town  citizens  became 
voters.  For  a  time  the  Proprietors  and  citizens  some- 
what indiscriminately  assumed  the  functions  of  each 
other, — the  freeholders  discharging  municipal  duties 
and  vice  versa,  the  records  of  each  being  chronicled 
in  the  same  books.  In  December,  17 16,  this  practice 
came  to  an  end,  and  the  meetings  of  freeholders  and 
citizens  were  held  separately  and  apart,  while  their 
respective  records  were  kept  in  separate  books.  ^ 

"This  book,"  begins  the  first  record  of  the  Proprie- 
tors in  1 716,  "is  appointed  for  to  Enter  of  business 
and  votes  of  proprietors'  meetings  in  from  time  to 
time  pr.  order  of  ye  meeting." 

The  first  meeting  recorded  was  held  at  Nantucket 
on  "ye  13th  day  of  12  mo.  1716." 

These  records  contain  for  the  most  part  the  arrange- 
ments of  house-lots,  lay-outs,  and  divisions  of  land  all 

'  H.  Barnard  Worth,  opus  cit.  '  Ibid. 


Nantucket  Records  149 

over  the  island,  the  naming  of  locahties,  the  making  of 
highways,  the  erection  of  mills  and  wharves,  the  ap- 
portionment of  pasturage,  the  fixation  of  boundaries, 
and  a  hundred  other  matters  cognate  to  Proprietary- 
rights  involving  the  welfare,  division,  and  governance 
of  the  island.  After  1700  the  title  of  "Proprietors  of 
the  Common  and  undivided  lands  of  the  Island  of  Nan- 
tucket" was  assumed  instead  of  "freeholders  and 
comonalty  of  the  town  of  Sherborn."^ 

The  records  consist  altogether  of  eight  volumes,  and 
one  Stock-book. 

In  Volume  i,  page  136,  is  a  table  of  the  "several 
owners  of  the  twenty-seven  shares  as  they  are  mated  and 
connected  in  draughting  of  the  same,  together  with 
each  man's  several  and  exact  interCvSt  therein";  and  on 
pages  169,  170,  and  171  of  Volume  i  is 

a  Regulation  of  the  twenty-seven  shairs  of  Land  on  the 
Island  of  Nantucket,  and  each  man's  interest  Put  as  much 
together  as  is  Covenient  could  be,  and  when  Done  Laid 
before  a  Proprietors'  meeting  and  accepted  and  ordered  to 
be  passed  on  the  Proprietors'  records  as  by  a  vote  on  record 
ye  15  of  12  mo.  1790  will  appear. 

The  last  record  in  Volume  i  is  dated  November  25, 
1808. 

From  page  i  to  10,  inverted  at  end  of  Volume  i,  is  a 
complete  list  of  the  sheep  "ear-marks"  "of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Sherborn  on  Nantucket." 

These  records,  after  1700,  are  very  carefully  kept, 
and  the  manifold  agenda  of  the  Proprietors'  meetings 
are  chronicled  with  much  exactitude,  while  in  many 
instances  the  various  allotments  of  land  are  delineated 

'  H.  Barnard  Worth,  opus  cit.,  p.  187. 


150  Nantucket 

with  admirable  accuracy,   and  the  volumes  have  an 
ample  index. 

Volume  2  is  thus  headed:  "This  Book  was  bought 
the  12  mo:,  the  13,  1808,  by  the  Proprietors  of  the  Island 
of  Nantucket  to  record  all  their  doings  in  that  they 
think  ought  to  be  recorded  in  their  records."  This 
volume,  like  Volume  i,  consists  of  lay-outs  of  land  for 
the  most  part,  the  first  record  being  dated  19th  of 
December,  1808,  and  the  last  recorded  on  the  2d  of 
May,  1836. 

INDIAN  DEEDS 

The  most  important  deeds  executed  between  the 
settlers  and  the  Indians  in  connection  with  the  trans- 
ference of  the  island  have  already  been  reproduced  in 
Chapter  III. 

The  Indian  deeds  conveying  individual  grants  of 
land  are  numerously  distributed  through  the  Registry, 
and  extend  from  1659  to  1774, — ^  period  of  115  years. 
Space  will  not  permit  further  reference  to  these  in  any 
detail,  but,  as  they  have  all  been  epitomized  and  tabu- 
lated by  Mr.  H.  B.  Worth,  ^  the  reader  is  referred  to  his 
work  for  particulars.  The  first  deed  in  this  category 
is  from  Nicornoose  and  Nanahuma  to  Thomas  Mayhew 
transferring  land,  and  is  dated  June  20,  1659,  and  the 
last  is  from  John  Jethro,  ceding  "a  sheep's  Common" 
to  the  Proprietors,  and  dated  in  1774. 

There  are  also  in  the  Registry  numerous  regulations 
with  regard  to  "drift  whales"  (which  the  Indians  had 
some  undiscovered  means  of  turning  to  their  advantage) ; 
also  records  of  much  litigation  in  the  courts  from 
1673  to  1757-8,  concerning  the  many  attempts  made 

'  Opus  cit. 


Nantucket  Records  151 

by  the  Indians  to  regain  the  lands  they  had  sold  and 
deeded  to  the  settlers.  These,  however,  are  fully 
recorded  in  the  work  just  cited,  and,  albeit  interesting 
in  themselves,  cannot  be  further  referred  to  here  for 
the  reason  already  stated. 

These  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  were  insti- 
gated by  the  natives  misunderstanding  the  English 
principle  of  land  transference  notwithstanding  its 
perfect  legitimacy,  and  their  believing  that  the  deeds 
they  had  executed  did  not  absolutely  convey  their 
lands  from  them  in  perpetuity.  The  aborigines  were 
also,  doubtless,  encouraged  in  their  action  by  receiving 
aid  and  advice  from  disreputable  Englishmen  who  were 
capable  of  skillfully  drawing  up  petitions  to  the  court 
and  authorities  for  their  own  selfish  interests. 

PROBATE  COURT  RECORDS 

Book  2  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  contains  the  earliest 
existing  records  of  Probate,  from  1671  (when  Richard 
Gardner  was  elected  Judge),  until  1680,  when  John 
Gardner  was  appointed  Chief  Justice;  and  from  that 
time  until  1706,  when  John  Gardner  died.  Earlier 
records  probably  existed  concerning  Probate  matters 
before  1671,  but  if  such  records  were  made,  they  have 
never  been  discovered,  and  were  possibly  lost  or  de- 
stroyed. From  1706  the  deeds  have  been  well  and 
carefully  recorded  in  the  Probate  Office. 

After  the  death  of  John  Gardner,  James  Coffin  was 
appointed  Judge,  and  Eleazer  Folger,  Registrar,  the 
latter  holding  his  appointment  until  1 754. 

During  the  twenty-six  years  elapsing  between  1680 
and  1706,  the  paucity  of  deeds  recorded  is  easily  observ- 
able: this  goes  to  show  that  there  must  have  been 


152  Nantucket 

great  carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  Registrar  in  failing 
to  record  the  estates  administered,  or  else  that  the 
records  themselves  are  no  longer  existent. 

The  estates  of  the  following — eight  in  number — are 
all  that  have  been  recorded  from  1 680-1 706,  viz: 
Nathaniel  Wyer,  Benjamin  Austin,  Tristram  Coffin, 
Thomas  Macy,  Sarah  Wyer,  Sarah  Gardner,  Joseph 
Coleman,  and  John  Walch. 

There  are  thirty-two  volumes  of  Deeds  in  the  Probate 
Office.  A  full  list  of  all  wills  administered,  from  1706 
to  1778,  will  be  found  in  Mr.  H.  Barnard  Worth's 
volume  already  referred  to,  to  which  the  writer  is  under 
many  obligations. 

The  following  method  of  electing  officers  in  Massa- 
chusetts Colony  in  1643  was  prescribed,  and,  as  it  is 
interesting,  it  may  be  mentioned  here : 

The  freemen  shall  use  Indian  Corn  and  Beanes,  the  Indian 
Corn  to  manifest  election,  the  Beanes  contrary,  and  if  any 
freeman  shall  put  in  more  than  one  Indian  Corn  or  Beane, 
he  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  offence  Ten  pounds/ 

An  allusion  to  this  custom  is  thus  described  by  Peter 
Folger,  in  1676: 

In  the  Hke  uncivil  manner  they  chose  two  young  men 
more,  the  said  Stephen  [Hussey]  bringing  his  corn  which 
betoken  choice  in  his  hand,  and  called  upon  others  to  corn 
this  man  and  that  man.  (From  Peter  Folger's  letter  to 
Sir  Edmund  Andros,  in  New  York  Col.  MSS.) 

Probably  the  first  reference  to  a  jail  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts islands  is  found  in  the  following  quotation 
from  the  records  of  the  General  Court. 

'  Vide  Dr.  C.  E.  Banks's  History  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  vol.  i.,  p.  143. 


Nantucket  Records  153 

It  is  ordered  by  the  Court  in  case  there  be  not  a  sufficient 
prison  built  in  Edgartown  on  Martha's  Vineyard  within 
three  months  after  the  date  hereof,  they  shall  pay  a  fine 
of  Ten  pounds.  ^ 

This  was  passed  on  September  21,  1686,  but  was  not 
carried  out,  as  no  jail  had  been  erected  in  March,  1699.^ 

'  Nantucket  Records,  ii.,  38.  ^  Dr.  C.  E.  Banks,  opus  cit. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY 

When  the  new  century  dawned  upon  Nantucket, 
the  inhabitants  were  still  suffering,  directly  and  in- 
directly, from  the  effects  of  the  Revolutionary  War, — - 
effects  so  disastrous  as  to  render  recovery  inevitably 
slow  and  uncertain.  Many  of  them  became  so  dis- 
couraged that  they  left  the  island  altogether;  but,  amid 
doubts  and  difficulties,  alternating  waves  of  prosperity 
and  adversity,  the  majority  "with  a  heart  for  any  fate," 
worked  on,  hoped  on,  doing  their  best,  and  oft  amid 
circumstances  which  were  neither  hope-inspiring  nor 
encouraging. 

At  this  time,  the  population  of  the  island  was  be- 
tween five  and  six  thousand  (5617),  and,  curiously 
enough,  was  gradually  increasing. 

The  earlier  years  of  1800  were  not  marked  by  any 
events  of  more  than  ordinary  interest,  save  the  pursuit 
of  some  large  whales  on  the  north  side  of  the  island, 
two  of  which  were  secured,  and  one  of  which  produced 
thirty-one  barrels. 

After  much  previous  consideration,  the  islanders, 
who  for  reasons  which  are  obvious,  had  long  been 
impressed  with  the  necessity  of  having  the  sand-bar 
(extending  from  Muskeget  Island  to  opposite  Coskata 

154 


The  Nineteenth  Century  155 

Pond)  removed  from  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  resolved 
to  petition  Congress  for  its  removal,  and  also  for  the 
deepening  of  the  channel.  Surveyors  had  prepared 
their  plans,  and  duly  reported  their  proposals,  but,  in 
the  end,  the  entire  matter  was  rejected  by  Congress, 
and  thus  abandoned  for  many  years. 

With  brightening  prospects,  the  hopes  of  the  Nan- 
tucketers  were  soon  again  in  the  ascendant.  The  ships 
were  having  successful  voyages,  and  the  demand  for  oil 
and  sperm  candles,  at  prices  constituting  good  profits, 
had  materially  increased,  keeping  the  whole  machinery 
of  the  industry  in  active  and  remunerative  operation. 

In  1804,  the  Paci;fic  Bank  and  two  insurance  com- 
panies were  established  and  in  1805,  the  present  House 
of  Correction  was  built  at  Quaise,  was  later  removed 
to  the  town,  and  is  now  standing  beside  the  jail.  Up 
to  1807,  the  island  was  prospering;  business  w^as  good 
and  increasing;  the  outlook  was  hopeful;  many  new 
buildings  were  erected,  and  everybody,  lulled  in  ap- 
parent security,  was  more  than  satisfied  when,  on  June 
22,  1807,  a  British  war-vessel  fired  upon  the  Chesapeake, 
belonging  to  the  United  vStates.  The  possible  results 
of  this  act  created  consternation  in  the  minds  of  the 
islanders,  and  fears  for  the  worst  almost  paralyzed  the 
commercial  activities  of  the  island.  Ships  were  with- 
held from  sea,— in  many  instances  hauled  up  and 
stripped;  day-laborers  could  find  no  employment, 
mariners  returned  home  in  enforced  idleness,  and,  only 
too  generally,  once  more  destitution  threatened. 

Thus  matters  proceeded  from  bad  to  worse,  when, 
as  Macy  says:  "Every  new  omen  of  war  seemed  to 
threaten  a  renewal  of  similar  sufferings  and  distress." 
Many  people  sold  their  residences,  and  removed  else- 
where   to    more    desirable    localities.     The    residents 


156  Nantucket 

petitioned  Congress,  enumerating  their  grievances  and 
praying  that  a  declaration  of  war  might  be  averted. 

On  June  24,  18 12,  the  American  Government  de- 
clared war  against  Great  Britain. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  writer,  nor  is  it  feasible, 
to  chronicle  in  detail  either  the  privations  and  sufferings 
of  the  islanders  during  this  terrible  war,  or  the  spirited 
efforts  they  made  to  mitigate  its  evils  by  fervent  appeals 
to  both  the  American  and  the  British  authorities. 
Their  ships  at  sea,  which  represented  their  most  valu- 
able possessions,  were  in  imminent  danger,  all  business 
was  at  a  standstill,  many  of  the  families  were  reduced 
almost  to  beggary  and  starvation,  and  the  condition 
of  the  involuntarily  unemployed  was,  indeed,  desperate. 
Nor  is  it  possible  to  describe  the  feelings  of  joy  and 
gratitude  with  which  the  Nantucketers  greeted  the 
news  of  peace  being  duly  ratified  on  February  28,  181 5.  ^ 

In  addition  to  the  direful  privations  to  which  the 
islanders  were  subjected  during  the  reign  of  terror 
just  happily  ended,  they  lost  many  of  their  vessels. 
When  the  war  broke  out,  they  had  43  ships,  47  sloops, 
7  brigs,  19  schooners, — 116  vessels  all  told,  and  of  this 
number  only  23  remained,  the  others  having  been  cap- 
tured, condemned,  or  lost. 

One  incident  occurred  during  this  war,  on  October 
10,  1814,  which  cannot  be  passed  over,  and  of  which 
the  Nantucketers  were  naturally  proud,  although  the 
loss  of  life  involved  was  very  considerable,  viz:  the 
so-called  "  Maddequecham  Fight,"  off  Tom  Nevers's 
Head,  Nantucket,  between  boats  from  the  British 
frigate  Endymion  and  an  American  privateer.  Prince 
of  Neufchatel,  in  which  the  Endymion  s  men  were  re- 
pulsed with  loss  of  121  in  killed  and  prisoners,  and  the 

» A  full  account  of  this  eventful  period  will  be  found  in  Macy's  History. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  157 

English  merchantman  Douglas  was  captured  and 
beached  after  the  fight.  The  fact  that  a  Nantucket 
pilot  (Kilburn)  was  engaged  aboard  of  the  Prince  of 
Neufchatel  was  doubly  gratifying  to  the  islanders,  who 
even  yet  recount  the  tale  with  much  satisfaction. 

Relieved  from  the  horrors  of  what  had  virtually  been 
a  blockade  of  the  island,  it  can  easily  be  imagined  how 
readily  the  emancipated  people  set  about  repairing 
their  misfortunes  as  far  as  possible;  but  although  the 
war  was  ended,  when  they  considered  the  dreadful 
ordeal  through  which  they  must  pass  before  they  could 
recover  what  they  had  lost,  it  cannot  be  a  source  of 
wonder  that  they  felt  discoiiraged  and  despairing. 
In  the  first  flush  of  peace  their  hearts  were  rejoiced, 
but  when  the  excitement  was  over,  and  neither  money 
nor  work  could  be  had,  the  poorer  islanders  were  driven 
almost  to  desperation  to  obtain  the  necessaries  of  life. 
A  small  number  of  ships  had  been  sent  to  sea,  but  until 
these  returned,  the  islanders  could  only  exercise  pa- 
tience, do  their  best,  and  trust  in  Providence. 

The  island  experienced  a  phenomenal  fall  of  tem- 
perature on  February  i,  18 15,  such  as  had  never  been 
known  either  before  or  since,  viz :  1 1  degrees  below  zero! 

On  the  5th  of  May,  18 16,  The  Nantucket  Gazette,  the 
first  newspaper  published  on  the  island,  was  issued  by 
Tannatt  and  Tupper.  It  failed  to  win  support,  and 
did  not  survive  beyond  the  first  year. 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  the  lighthouse  on 
Great  Point,  a  wooden  structure  erected  in  1784,  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  it  was  replaced,  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  government,  by  a  new  stone  building. 
This  light  is  seventy  feet  above  the  sea-level,  and  can 
be  seen  at  a  distance  of  fourteen  nautical  miles. 

Erelong    the  whaling  ships    began    to  arrive   after 


158  Nantucket 

successful  voyages,  and  their  coming  revived  the  still 
drooping  spirits  of  all  classes ;  for,  owing  to  many  causes, 
and  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  two  years  had 
elapsed  since  the  war,  the  islanders  generally,  and 
especially  the  laborers,  were  still  suffering  from  reaction- 
ary distress  from  which  time  alone  could  deliver  them. 
However,  fortune  smiled  again  when  the  ships  came 
home,  for  new  manufactures  were  started,  ship-owners 
increased  their  fleets,  and  once  again,  it  was  hoped, 

I  J  the  island  would  soon  resume  its  wonted  activities, 

/?«]  and  constant  employment  be  secured  for  all. 

Inspired  with  new  life  themselves,  the  islanders  soon 
emerged  from  the  slough  of  despair  into  which  they 
had  been  cast ;  all  classes  of  the  community  were  work- 
ing together  for  the  good  of  all;  new  markets  were 
opening,  food  was  no  longer  scarce,  prices  had  fallen 
materially,  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  terrible  ex- 
periences of  the  past,  the  population  had  increased  to 
over  7000  by  1 8^Q^  while  the  whaling  fleet  had  also 
increased  to"  over  seventy-two  vessels,  and  the  coasters 
to  over  eighty. 

In  1 82 1 ,  trees  were  first  planted  in  the  town — a  species 
of  two-thorn  acacia,  known  as  locust-trees. 

Between  1810  and  1840,  ship-building  was  instituted 
on  the  island,  but  not  to  a  large  extent.  The  vessels 
built  were,  for  the  most  part,  comparatively  small, 
averaging  about  thirty  or  forty  tons.  The  islanders, 
however,  succeeded  in  building  one  beautiful  ship,  the 
Joseph  Starbuck,  which  made  one  successful  voyage, 
but  was,  unfortunately,  totally  wrecked  on  Nantucket 
bar  on  November  27,  1842,  when  proceeding  on  a 
second.  ^ 

Still  later  a  large  schooner  was  built.     So  far  as  the 

'  Vide  Chapter  XVI. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  159 

names  of  these  ships  are  known,  the  first  (built  at 
Brant  Point  in  1810)  was  called  the  Rose,  the  second, 
in  1832,  the  Charles  Carroll,  and  the  Nantucket  and  the 
Lexington,  in  1838.  But,  alas,  this  industry  shared 
the  same  fate  as  the  others  which  preceded  and  suc- 
ceeded it.  In  1823,  the  tonnage  engaged  in  Nantucket 
whaling  was  at  its  height,  that  of  New  Bedford  exceed- 
ing it  subsequently. 

About  1824,  the  Sconset  milestones  were  set  by  Peter 
F.  Ewer;  they  have  been  removed  twice  since  then, 
once  over  to  the  middle  Sconset  road  which  runs  by 
Hensdale,  and  finally  to  the  road  latest  laid  out.  At 
present,  they  are  all  accurately  located,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  7th  and  7^2  stones. 

In  1835,  Daniel  Webster  appeared  professionally  on 
the  island,  and  he  was  so  astonished  at  its  appearance 
and  importance  that  he  called  it  "The  unknown  city 
in  the  ocean!" 

Education.  The  early  settlers  were  somewhat  tardy 
in  recognizing  the  necessity  of  educational  development 
among  their  children  beyond  such  domestic  instruction 
as  they  could  obtain  at  home,  and  probably  from  a 
few  private  elementary  schools.  In  17 16,  they  ap- 
pointed Eleazer  Folger  as  their  first  schoolmaster.^ 
Mr.  Timothy  White,  in  the  first  instance  a  missionary 
(since  1725)  among  the  Indians,  was,  in  1732,  appointed 
minister  to  the  local  church.  It  is  now  believed  that 
a  new  meeting-house  was  built  about  the  time  of,  or 
shortly  before,  Mr.  White's  appointment.  Mr.  White 
conducted  a  school  during  the  time  he  remained  in  the 
district.  However,  it  was  not  until  1827  that  the 
corporate  authorities  founded  two  large  public  schools 
on  the  monitorial  plan,  after  the  removal  of  the  town 

I  Vide  Chapter  V. 


i6o  Nantucket 

to  Nantucket.  Previous  to  this  period,  the  Academy 
had,  in  1800,  been  erected  on  Academy  Hill,  and  there 
had  been  a  number  of  private  schools,  in  addition  to 
an  appropriation  officially  set  aside  for  the  benefit  of 
the  poorer  classes  of  children. 

In  1835,  there  were  two  large  grammar-schools,  and 
four  primary  schools  with  an  attendance  of  about  three 
hundred,  in  addition  to  private  schools ;  but  within  half 
a  century  there  were  twelve  flourishing  public  schools  on 
the  island,  directed  by  thirty  teachers,  and  aggregating 
twelve  hundred  pupils.  The  High-School  was  insti- 
tuted in  1838,  but  the  present  schoolhouse  was  not 
erected  until  1854. 

The  South  Grammar  School  (now  partially  used  as 
a  Town-Hall  and  Courthouse),  was  on  Orange  Street, 
and  the  West  School  on  Upper  Main  Street,  beyond 
Gardner  Street.  These  two  schools  were  erected  in 
1827. 

Schools  were  established  at  Tuckemuck,  Madeket, 
Sconset,  and  Polpis. 

In  addition  to  these  the  famous  Coffin  School  was 
founded  in  1827,  by  Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin,  Bart, 
(a  lineal  descendant  of  Tristram  Coffin  in  the  fifth 
generation).  This  Lancastrian  School  was  originally 
founded  for  the  descendants  of  Tristram  Coffin,  but 
owing  to  a  variety  of  causes  it  was  closed  in  1898. 
The  school  building,  in  the  first  instance,  was  placed 
on  the  east  side  of  Fair  Street,  nearly  opposite  Farmer 
Street.  In  1903,  the  school  was  reopened  as  a  manual 
training  school,  and  it  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition 
and  doing  excellent  work  in  this  direction.  The 
present  building  was  erected  in  1852. 

The  schools  of  Nantucket,  as  at  present  carried  on, 
are  models  of  excellence  in  every  department,  and,  so 


The  Nineteenth  Century  i6i 

far  as  administration  and  educational  results  are  con- 
cerned, will  not  suffer  in  comparison  with  any  other 
schools  in  the  United  States.  The  futiire  of  the  country 
is  safe  amid  such  fostering  evolutional  conditions  and 
activities. 

In  1830,  Nantucket  was  described  as  "the  third 
commercial  town  in  the  Commonwealth,  viz:  Boston, 
Salem,  Nantucket."  Would  that  she  could  have  re- 
tained that  position! 

The  Poor  Farms.  There  is  no  accessible  record  as 
to  the  date  of  erection  of  the  building,  still  standing 
at  Quaise,  on  the  east  side  of  Bellows  Pond — which 
was  utilized  as  the  first  Poor  Farm.  As  far  as  can  be 
ascertained,  it  was  originally  the  homestead  of  a  branch 
of  the  Coffin  family,  and  was  built  probably  about 
the  middle  of  the  i8th  centtuy  or  later.  It  is  at  least 
known  that  it  was  the  country  home  of  Mark  Coffin, 
who  was  born  October  16,  1768,  married,  first  Judith 
Hussey,  and  secondly,  Sarah  Olney,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 
He  died  October  2,  1839,  aged  seventy-one  years.  He 
was  the  son  of  Shubael  Coffin,  w^ho  was  born  in  1739, 
and  died  in  1817.' 

Mark  Coffin,  or,  as  he  was  familiarly  known,  ''  Cousin 
Mark,"  had  a  sad  and  curious  history.  He  is  reputed 
to  have  been  wealthy,  well-educated,  and  the  author 
of  several  books.  Misfortune  gradually  assailed  him 
during  the  time  he  occupied  the  Quaise  homestead  as 
his  summer  home,  after  leaving  which  the  house  became 
the  first  Poor  Farm.  He  became  a  schoolmaster  after 
the  loss  of  his  wealth,  and  had  his  school  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  house  on  Liberty  Street,  now  occupied  by 

'  Mark  Coffin  was  the  son  of  Shubael,  who  was  the  son  of  Henry, 
who  was  the  son  of  Jonathan,  who  was  the  son  of  James,  who  was  the 
son  of  Tristram  and  Dionis. — W.  B.  Starbuck  Papers. 


i62  Nantucket 

Mr.  Voorneveld,  the  florist.  From  this  he  migrated 
to  Federal  Street,  where  he  kept  a  book  and  gen- 
eral store,  on  the  site  afterwards  occupied  by  the 
Phoenix  Bank,  near  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
The  bank  was  subsequently  destroyed  in  the  great 
fire  of  1846. 

Tradition  asserts  that,  toward  the  end  of  his 
life,  Mark  Coffin  became  an  inmate  of  the  Poor  Farm 
which  had  once  been  his  summer  home.  He  died 
on  October  2,  1839,  leaving  a  daughter  Mary,  who 
became  a  school-teacher,  and  died  on  August  13, 
1844.^ 

In  April,  1822,  the  town  bought  Quaise  Farm,  for 
which  they  paid  $6700.  They  also  erected  a  new  Poor 
Farm,  consisting  of  four  buildings,  at  a  cost  of  $1910, 
to  which  additions,  etc.,  were  afterwards  made  (costing 
$1679.96),  in  1825.  In  1823,  the  poor  were  removed  to 
the  new  asylum. 

In  1826,  the  Committee  reported  that 

the  buildings  are  in  fine  condition,  and  there  is  sufficient 
accommodation  for  a  very  large  increase  in  the  number 
of  tenants.  They  extend  from  east  to  west  more  than  one 
hundred  feet,  two  stories  high,  and  about  forty  feet  wide, 
with  a  cookery  and  ample  accommodation  for  colored 
people  in  the  rear.^ 

This  building  was  situated  on  a  knoll  to  the  east  side 
of  Bellows  Pond,  and  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire 
on  the  night  of  February  21,  1844,  when  ten  of  the 
inmates  were  burned  to  death.  The  following  are  the 
names  and  ages  of  those  who  perished: 

'  W.  C.  Folger  Papers,  and  Quaker  Records. 

'  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Town  Accounts,  1826. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  163 

Paul  Jenkins,  66  Sophia  Beebe,  57 

Thomas  Hull,  67  Lydia  Bowen,  33 

Jonathan  Cathcart,  79  Phebe  Jones,  80 

WilHam  Holmes,  41  Abial  Davis,  87 

William  Hutchinson,  no  age  Welthy  Davis,  53 

During  the  ensuing  year  it  was  rebuilt  on  the  same 
site,  but  in  1854  it  was  removed,  in  sections,  to  Orange 
Street,  Nantucket.  Here  it  still  stands,  and  is  now 
known  as  "Our  Island  Home," — this  beautiful  name 
having  been  bestowed  upon  it  by  the  overseers  of  the 
poor  on  July  4,  1905.  Its  removal  and  re-erection  cost 
$7500. 

On  May  loth,  1836,  a  great  fire  occurred  in  lower 
Main  Street. 

On  the  original  site  of  "Miriam  Coffin's"  famous 
house,  situated  at  Quaise,  to  the  northwest  of  Bellows 
Pond,  the  late  Mr.  W.  B.  Starbuck,  in  1851,  erected 
his  dwelling-house,  which  is  still  standing. 

The  Chiirches.  Congregational.  The  original 
Congregational  Church  has  already  been  discussed  in 
Chapter  V. 

The  present  orthodox  Congregational  Church  in 
Nantucket,  on  Beacon  Hill,  was  built  in  1834,  and 
superseded  the  little  church,  now  known  as  "the  old 
North  Vestry,"  which  was  moved  to  the  rear  after  the 
new  church  was  built. 

After  serving  as  the  Congregational  Church  for 
nearly  seventy  years,  it  is  now  used  as  a  Vestry  and 
Sunday  School, 

Methodist  Episcopal.  Methodism  was  introduced 
on  the  island  in  1799.  The  public  services  were,  at 
first,  held  in  the  Town  Hall. 

The  First   Chiu"ch  was  situated  at   the  southwest 


1 64  Nantucket 

corner  of  Fair  and  Lyon  Streets,  and  was  dedicated  on 
New  Year's  Day,  1800.  This  building  was  known 
as  the  Teazer  meeting-house  from  "the  flag  of  the 
sloop  Teazer,  which  was  raised  over  the  church  during 
an  early  period  of  its  occupancy,"  The  chapel,  sub- 
sequently erected  on  Centre  Street  in  1823,  is  said 
to  accommodate  seven  or  eight  hundred  people.  The 
organ  in  this  Church  was  formerly  used  at  the  "Old 
South"  Church  in  Boston. 

Unitarian,  or  Second  Congregational,  Church  on 
Orange  Street.  This  was  instituted  and  incorporated 
in  1 8 10.  This  large  and  commodious  church  is  distin- 
guished by  the  possession  of  a  tower  which,  for  the 
most  part  of  a  century,  has  enshrined  that  most  valued 
of  public  benefits — the  town  clock.  The  first  clock, 
made  in  Nantucket  in  1823,  was,  in  May,  1881,  super- 
seded by  a  new  one,  a  gift  to  the  town  by  a  respected 
and  generous  townsman,  Mr.  W.  H.  Starbuck.  In  this 
tower,  also,  is  a  Portuguese  bell  which  was  cast  in 
Lisbon  in  18 10,  brought  over  to  this  country  in  18 12, 
and  placed  in  the  belfry,  in  181 5,  at  a  cost  of  $500. 
It  is  a  remarkably  sweet-toned  bell,  and  bears  the 
following  inscription,  translated  from  the  Portuguese : 

To  the  good  Jesus  of  the  mountain  the  devotees  of  Lisbon 
direct  their  prayers,  offering  Him  one  complete  set  of  six 
bells,  to  call  the  people  and  adore  Him  in  His  sanctuary. 

lose  Domingos  da  Costa  has  done  it,  in  Lisbon,  in  the 
year  18 10. 

A  splendid  view  of  the  island  and  the  ocean  beyond 
can  be  obtained  from  this  gilded  tower,  from  which, 
also,  "in  the  good  old  days  of  yore,"  a  watch  was  kept 
for  the  return  of  whaling  ships. 

For  many  years  the  late  Town  Crier,  William  D. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  165 

Clark,  signalled,  from  this  tower,  the  approach  of  the 
Nantucket  steamboat,  as  soon  as  she  was  discernible 
through  a  powerful  telescope,  the  signal  being  several 
long  toots  on  his  horn  from  the  windows  towards  each 
point  of  the  compass.  This  great  convenience  was 
entirely  a  voluntary  and  unpaid  service  on  the  crier's 
part,  and  has  been  greatly  missed  by  many  since  it  was 
discontinued.  On  hearing  the  horn,  old  Nantucketers 
used  to  say:  "There's  Clark — the  boat's  in  sight." 
On  very  windy  or  stormy  days,  and  in  the  early  morning 
after  a  gale  during  the  night,  Clark  was  always  on  the 
watch  for  wrecks,  warning  the  townspeople  of  vessels 
in  distress,  that  help  might  be  despatched.  Probably 
many  a  poor  sailor  owed  his  life  to  this  vigilance  of  the 
crier. 

In  the  South  tower,  watch  was  kept  also  for  fires  at 
night,  and  the  direction  of  fires  was  signalled  by  lan- 
terns. These  watchmen  were  paid  by  the  town,  and 
the  custom  was  continued  to  within  a  few  years,  when 
the  present  system  of  electric  fire-alarms  was  installed. 

The  Episcopal  Church  owes  its  establishment  in 
Nantucket  to  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Moses  Marcus, 
who,  in  1837,  visited  the  island  as  a  diocesan  missionary 
from  New  York.  A  church  was  organized  in  1838,  and 
Mr.  Marcus  was  appointed  the  first  Rector.  The  new 
church,  known  as  Trinity,  was  built  on  the  site  of  the 
Friends'  meeting-house  in  Broad  Street.  The  meeting- 
house was  moved  to  the  rear  of  the  lot,  and  remodeled 
into  a  chapel  and  Sunday-school  room,  while  the 
church  itself  was  erected  on  the  front  of  the  lot,  being 
consecrated  September  18,  1839.  It  has  been  said, 
that  Trinity  Church  was  architecturally  beautiful,  and 
that  the  turreted  tower  contained  a  latticed  window 
through  which  "the  wind  sighed  forth,  as  an  .^olian 


i66  Nantucket 

harp,  strains  of  fitful  melody,  'most  musical,  most 
melancholy.'  " 

The  church  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  during  the 
great  conflagration  of  1846.  After  this  catastrophe, 
the  Trinity  Society  was  dissolved  and  reorganized  as 
St.  Paul's  Church. 

For  some  time  afterwards  the  Episcopalians  met  for 
worship  in  the  North  Vestry,  and  removed  in  1848  to 
Harmony  Hall,  on  the  site  of  which  St.  Mary's  Roman 
Catholic  Church  was  subsequently  built.  In  1849, 
they  erected  on  Fair  Street  another  church,  which 
was  opened  for  service  in  1850. 

In  1902,  a  splendid  stone-church  was  erected  and 
presented  to  the  parish  by  Miss  C.  L.  W.  French, 
of  Boston,  in  memory  of  her  father,  and  it  stands 
on  the  site  of  the  former  less  pretentious  building, 
having  been  consecrated  on  St.  Barnabas  Day,  June 
nth. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  on  Summer  Street,  was 
organized  in  1839,  but  the  meeting-house  was  not 
erected  until  1840. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  has  been  represented 
in  Nantucket  since  1849,  but  no  priest  was  in  residence 
and  no  regular  place  of  worship  instituted  until  about 
1858.  In  that  year  the  Rev.  Father  Hennis  secured 
possession  of  Harmony  Hall  in  Federal  Street,  and  it 
was  duly  consecrated  as  St.  Mary's  Church.  Previous 
to  this  time  the  church  had  been  under  the  spiritual 
guidance  of  New  Bedford  priests. 

In  1897,  on  the  old  site,  enlarged  by  the  purchase  of 
an  adjacent  lot,  a  new  church  was  erected  under  the 
incumbency  of  Father  C.  McSweeney,  who  began  his 
ministrations  in  1883. 

The  Rev.   Father  McGee  was  appointed  resident 


The  Nineteenth  Century  167 

priest  in  1903.  The  Rev.  Father  Kelly  is  now  in 
residence,  191 2. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  Reformed  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  an  offshoot  from  the  First  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church ;  but  there  are  no  records. 

The  York  Street  Colored  Baptist  Society  was 
formed  in  1831,  and  occupied  the  York  Street  meeting- 
house for  some  years,  while  the  society  existed. 

The  Pleasant  Street  Baptist  Society  and  Church 
was  organized  by  and  for  colored  people  in  1847,  when 
the  Rev.  James  E.  Crawford  (colored) — the  barber- 
minister — was  appointed  pastor,  a  position  which  he 
sustained  very  acceptably  and  efficiently  for  forty-one 
years,  preaching  every  Sunday  evening  to  large  congre- 
gations.    He  died  in  1888. 

The  Universalists  had  a  church  where  the  Athe- 
naeum now  stands,  but  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1846. 
The  present  Athen^um  building  was  erected  on  the 
site  in  1847. 

The  First  Universalist  Church  was  incorporated 
on  January  20,  1827,  but  it  was  in  existence  for  less 
than  ten  years. 

The  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
instituted  in  1835,  near  corner  of  Pleasant  and  York 
Streets. 

A  People's  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1897. 
It  was  the  result  of  a  secession  from  the  First  Baptist 
Church.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  Friends'  meeting- 
house on  Centre  Street,  now  a  part  of  the  "Roberts 
House." 

The  Nantucket  Athen^um,  when  incorporated 
in  1834,  was  known  as  the  Athenaeum,  Library,  and 
Museum,  and  was  the  result  of  a  coalition  between 
two    previously     existing    societies,    one,    the    "Me- 


i68  Nantucket 

chanics'  Association,"  organized  in  1820,  and  the 
other,  the  "Columbian  Library  Association,"  estab- 
lished in  1823.  These  two  societies  had  become 
amalgamated,  under  the  title  of  the  "United  Library 
Association,"  in  1827,  but  when  some  of  the  promi- 
nent members  of  the  society  offered  a  valuable  cen- 
tral site  for  the  erection  of  a  large  and  suitable 
building  for  the  Association,  the  matter  was  taken 
up  with  much  spirit  and  subscriptions  were  insti- 
tuted. These  soon  exceeded  the  amount  required 
to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  land-donors,  and  the 
association,  with  the  donors'  permission,  seciired  the 
house  and  land  then  recently  vacated  by  the  Univer- 
salist  Society.  Having  remodeled  the  house  to  suit 
their  purposes,  the  "Nantucket  Athenaeum,  Library, 
and  Museum"  was  inaugurated,  under  the  most 
auspicious  circumstances.  Unfortunately  the  premises 
with  their  valuable  contents  were  totally  destroyed  by 
the  terrible  fire  of  July  13,  1846. 

The  official  report  of  the  trustees  for  the  following 
year  particularizes  the  irreparable  losses  sustained, 
which  included  3200  volumes  of  books,  many  invalu- 
able records  and  documents  pertaining  to  the  early 
history  of  the  island,  and  also  valuable  collections 
housed  in  the  museum,  consisting  of  shells,  minerals, 
birds,  insects,  coins,  and  foreign  objects  of  interest, 
and  antiquities. 

Notwithstanding  the  inexpressible  havoc  wrought 
throughout  the  town  by  this  tremendous  conflagration 
and  the  disastrous  effects  upon  the  inhabitants,  they,  with 
much  commendable  enterprise,  determined  to  erect  a  new 
building,  and  so  prompt  and  effective  was  their  activity 
that  the  imposing  structure  now  existing  was  finished 
and  ready  for  occupation  on  February  i,  1847. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  169 

Through  the  genial  influence  of  Mr.  William  Mitchell, 
the  then  President,  and  some  of  his  generous  friends,  the 
new  library  opened  with  1600  volumes,  a  substantial 
basis  on  which  to  build  up  the  splendid  collection  of 
books  which  now  constitute  the  Athenaeum  Library, 
amounting  to  over  20,000  volumes. 

The  museum  was  subsequently  taken  over  by  the 
Historical  Society  (which  is  referred  to  elsewhere^), 
thus  leaving  more  room  at  the  Athenaeum  for  the  ac- 
cumulation of  literary  treasures. 

Main  Street,  or  "the  Square,"  as  it  was  then  called, 
from  the  Bank  to  Rotch's  market,  was  first  paved 
with  cobble-stones  about  seventy -five  years  ago  (1837?). 
Above  the  Bank  and  extending  up  to  the  Starbuck 
houses,  the  street  was  first  paved  about  sixty  years  ago 
(1852?).^     The  street  was  repaved  in  1889. 

In  the  years  1836-37  a  financial  panic  occurred 
which  not  only  caused  disaster  among  Nantucket 
merchants,  but  involved  the  island  and  its  inhabitants 
in  a  web  of  difficulties  and  adversities  from  which  they 
were  unable  to  extricate  themselves  without  severe 
and  prolonged  suffering.  The  situation  was  intensified 
by  the  suspension  of  specie  payment  by  the  banks, 
and  the  baneful  and  far-reaching  results  of  this  mis- 
fortune can  better  be  imagined  than  described. 

The  two  Cliff  beacons  were  erected  in  1838,  and 
were  first  lighted  during  November  of  that  year;  they 
were  refitted  in  1856.  At  Monomoy,  in  range  with 
Brant  Point,  there  was  also  a  beacon,  which  was  dis- 
continued about  twenty  years  ago,  and  within  the  last 
six  or  seven  years  the  government  paid  a  man  a  nominal 
salary  to  look  after  it. 

'  Vide  Chapter  X. 

'  David  Folger,  as  reported  to  John  C.  Gardner. 


170  Nantucket 

During  1842,  a  terrific  storm  burst  over  the  island, 
washing  away  part  of  Sconset  bank  and  several  houses. 

The  year  1842  was  the  banner  year  of  the  Nantucket 
whaling  industry.  The  fleet  had  then  reached  its 
climax,  comprising  86  ships  and  barks,  2  brigs,  and  2 
schooners,  with  a  capacity  of  36,000  tons,  and  the 
island  contained  a  population  verging  upon  10,000 
inhabitants.  But  it  is  from  this  year,  also,  that  its 
decline  must  be  dated,  for  a  series  of  grave  and  una- 
voidable misfortunes  soon  afterwards  succeeded  one 
another  and  these  gradually  dispelled  all  hopes  as  to 
the  restoration  of  the  industry.  A  few  of  these  disasters 
must  be  briefly  referred  to  here. 

For  many  years  Nantucket  had  been  exceptionally 
free  from  the  ravages  of  fire,  and  from  its  settlement, 
in  1661,  until  1832,  the  aggregate  losses  from  this  cause 
were  computed  to  amoimt  to  only  $36,000,  for  the  most 
part  incurred  by  the  destruction  of  isolated  houses  and 
places  of  business.  In  1838,  however,  a  fire  occurred 
which  was  described  as  ' '  the  most  extensive  and  disas- 
trous ever  experienced  in  the  community  "  up  to  that  date, 
and  the  loss  then  entailed  was  estimated  at  $200,000. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  1846  that  the  terrible 
catastrophe  distinguished  as  the  "Great  Fire"  broke 
out  on  a  sultry  July  night,  and,  since  the  town  was 
principally  built  of  wood,  nearly  the  entire  business 
section  of  the  town  was  utterly  consumed  in  the  de- 
vastating virulence  of  the  flames.  Over  three  hundred 
buildings,  extending  over  thirty-three  acres,  were 
burned,  and  property  estimated  at  nearly  $1,000,000 
was  completely  destroyed.  After  the  fire  one  could 
stand  on  the  steps  of  the  Pacific  Bank  and  see  the 
ships  anchored  back  of  the  bar,  between  the  chimneys 
left  standing. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  171 

The  progress  of  the  fire  was  eventually  arrested  by 
four  brick  houses,  viz:  one  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Orange  Streets,  the  Pacific  Bank,  the  Ocean  House, 
and  Aaron  Mitchell's  house  on  North  Water  Street. 

This  direful  calamity  contributed  largely  to  the 
decline  of  the  Nantucket  whale  fisheries,  already 
waning. 

Although,  at  first,  the  inhabitants  were  almost  para- 
lyzed by  the  results  of  this  awe-inspiring  holocaust, 
they,  nevertheless,  manifested  the  marvelous  reserve 
force  which  has  ever  characterized  them,  by  having 
most  of  the  business  thoroughfares  rebuilt,  reopened, 
and  relighted  nine  months  from  the  date  of  the  fire,  viz : 
on  March  24,  1847,  when  they,  very  rationally,  made  a 
festival  of  the  occasion. 

During  the  year  1847  also,  Norwegian  pine-trees 
were  first  planted  on  the  island,  and  more  pine-groves 
were  added,  in  1852-53,  by  Josiah  Sttugiss. 

As  early  as  1848,  Nantucket  boasted  of  two  excellent 
hotels,  the  Ocean  House  in  town,  and  the  Atlantic 
House  in  Sconset. 

On  February  12,  1849,  an  order  was  made  by  the 
Selectmen  that  the  bells  be  rung  at  7  a.m.,  12  noon,  and 
9  P.M.,  the  custom  continuing  to  this  day. 

The  general  decline  of  Nantucket,  however,  which 
appeared  to  have  set  in  when  its  prosperity  was  at  its 
zenith,  was  further  hastened  by  circimistances  which 
threatened  to  depopulate  the  island  altogether,  during 
1849,  when  the  people  became  crazed  with  the  "Cali- 
fornian  fever,"  which  had  spread  to  their  shores  from 
the  mainland,  and  when  every  islander  was  seized  with 
a  violent  desire  to  seek  his  fortune  anew  in  the  promise- 
land  of  El  Dorado.  Fourteen  vessels,  all  owned  and 
officered  by   Nantucketers,   sailed   for   San   Francisco 


172  Nantucket 

during  this  year,  bearing  a  freight  of  passengers  in 
addition  to  stores  of  a  manifold  and  various  character. 
After  their  arrival,  some  of  the  gold-seekers  remained 
and  made  their  fortune;  some  never  came  back,  and 
still  others  returned  poorer,  sadder,  and  wiser  men. 

The  year  1849  had,  on  the  whole,  been  a  m.ost  dis- 
tressful one  for  Nantucketers,  and  before  it  had  ended 
commercial  activities  were  weak  and  languishing. 

In  1850,  the  prospect  seemed  brightening,  and  final 
spasmodic  efforts  were  made  to  reanimate  the  moribund 
whale-fishery.  The  ship-owners  succeeded  in  refitting 
fourteen  vessels,  but  such  difficulties  arose  in  obtaining 
officers  and  men  for  the  ships  that  it  became  impossible 
to  carry  out  the  undertaking  with  anything  like  the 
desired  success.  In  1852,  1853,  1854,  1855,  and  1856, 
similar  efforts  were  made,  but,  on  the  whole,  with 
unremunerative  results. 

In  1851-52,  Main  Street  was  planted  with  elm-trees 
by  Charles  G,  and  Henry  Coffin,  and  Centre  Street 
was  planted  with  English  maples  by  N.  A.  Sprague. 
The  pines  at  Miacomet  were  planted  by  Henry  Coffin 
in  1866-67.  The  willows  on  Centre  Street  are  said 
to  have  grown  from  slips  taken  from  Napoleon's  grave 
at  St.  Helena. 

In  addition  to  the  causes  already  indicated  as  tend- 
ing to  depreciate  the  whaling  industry,  the  greater 
expenditure  involved  in  the  fitting  out  of  vessels  in 
consequence  of  the  then  prevailing  high  prices  ren- 
dered the  business  less  remunerative  than  it  had  been; 
whales  were  decreasing  in  the  high  seas,  the  consump- 
tion of  whale-oil  was  lessening,  the  prices  were  declining, 
and  petroleum  was  fast  replacing  sperm-oil  in  general 
use.  All  these  factors  militated  against  any  further 
profitable  sea-whaling,  and  in  Nantucket,  as  well  as 


The  Nineteenth  Century  173 

elsewhere,  the  industry  was  soon  among  the  things 
that  had  been. 

In  1850,  the  population  of  Nantucket  amounted  to 
8779,  a  decrease  of  nearly  1000  since  1840. 

In  1852,  efforts  were  made  for  an  extension  of  the 
Cape  Cod  Railway  to  Hyannis  as  likely  to  establish 
a  readier  communication  between  the  island  and  the 
mainland.  The  Legislature  was  petitioned  to  permit 
the  town  to  subscribe  for  $50,000  worth  of  stock,  and 
accordingly  the  town  purchased  stock.  The  desired 
communication  was  duly  opened  up  by  Captain  Brown, 
and  the  steamer  Massachusetts  on  October  9,  1854.  It 
may  be  mentioned  that  this  service  was  suspended  in 
1872,  and  a  more  practicable  route  to  the  mainland 
established  between  the  island  and  Woods  Hole. 

The  West  schoolhouse  was  destroyed  by  fire  on 
July  8,  1852. 

The  first  installation  of  gas  works  and  light  was 
carried  out  during  1854,  and  the  Asylum  for  the  Poor 
and  the  House  of  Correction  were  removed  to  Nan- 
tucket during  this  year. 

In  September,  1855,  the  steamer  Islafid  Home,  which 
was  specially  built  to  traverse  the  Sound,  arrived  at 
Nantucket,  and  became  very  popular,  as  she  was  an 
excellent  sea-boat,  and  many  pleasant  memories  are 
still  associated  with  her. 

In  1856,  the  present  lighthouse  at  Brant  Point  was 
erected,  and  the  Nantucket  Agricultural  Societ}^  was 
established. 

In  1857,  yet  another  panic  prevailed,  and  with  dire- 
ful results  throughout  the  country.  Nantucket  was 
not  so  much  affected  by  it  as  she  was  by  that  of  1837; 
inasmuch  as  her  commerce  was  already  reduced  to 
almost  a  minimum;  but  it  succeeded  in  depleting  her 


174  Nantucket 

population  still  ftirther,  and  by  i860  her  inhabitants 
were  reduced  to  6094,  a  decrease  of  2685  diiring  the 
previous  ten  years. 

In  this  year,  also,  attempts  were  made  to  connect 
the  island  with  the  mainland  by  a  submarine  cable, 
but  the  service  was  not  successfully  installed,  and  it 
was  ultimately  abandoned,  after  many  futile  endeavors 
to  make  it  effective,  in  1861, 

General  commercial  depression  prevailed  in  Nantuc- 
ket during  the  three  following  years,  notwithstanding 
many  vigorous  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  townsmen  to 
obviate  it.  Many  of  them  had  given  up  hope  of  im- 
provement, many  left  the  island  to  seek  better  fortune 
elsewhere,  but  some  still  persisted  in  believing  there 
was  yet  a  great  future  in  store  for  her. 

The  West  schoolhouse  was  rebuilt  and  used  as  such 
for  about  twenty  years. 

The  making  of  shoes  was  subsequently  instituted 
in  it,  but  with  varying  success  until  August  3,  1873, 
when  the  factory  was  destroyed  by  fire,  with  a  loss  of 
$18,000,  and  the  business  was  destroyed  with  it. 

The  Civil  War  broke  out  in  the  spring  of  1861,  and 
the  distinguished  position  which  Nantucket  achieved 
for  herself  during  its  continuance  is  minutely  recorded 
in  the  archives  of  the  State.  The  history  of  this  san- 
guinary but  necessary  warfare  is  better  known  in 
Nantucket  than  in  most  places,  for  so  many  of  her 
patriotic  sons  have  survived  the  terrible  conflict,  even 
though  maimed  and  scarred  by  honor's  wounds,  that 
there  are  few  of  the  islanders  who  have  not  heard  their 
narration  of  heroic  deeds  and  the  thrilling  episodes 
of  death  and  victory. 

Here,  unfortunately,  only  a  few  of  the  main  facts 
can  be  briefly  referred  to.     When  the  war  began,  and 


The  Nineteenth  Century  175 

the  Presidential  call  was  made  for  men,  every  Nan- 
tucketer's  heart  thrilled  with  patriotic  fire,  and  every 
man  who  responded  to  the  call  was  a  native-born 
islander,  swayed  alone  by  courage  and  patriotism. 

The  island  contributed  two  hundred  and  thirteen 
men  to  the  army,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty -six  to 
the  navy,  being  fifty-six  above  its  quota, — thus  earning 
the  proud  distinction  of  "  Banner- town "  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts.  Of  those  who  joined 
the  services  seventy -four  met  a  soldier's  death! 

Where  every  man  distinguished  himself  it  may  seem 
invidious  to  single  out  any  one  for  special  mention,  but 
there  is  not  a  Nantucket  soldier  who  will  not  admit 
that  General  George  Nelson  Macy  well  deserved  all 
the  honors  he  attained.  The  following  record  appears 
in  the  Genealogy  of  the  Macy  Family. 

From  Ball's  Bluff  to  Appomattox  Court-House  he 
marched  and  fought.  He  served  through  the  Peninsular 
campaign  of  McClellan;  through  the  dangers  of  the  first 
and  second  attacks  at  Fredericksburg;  lost  a  hand  at 
Gettysburg ;  was  wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  and  again  on 
the  James.  Starting  as  a  Lieutenant,  he  won  his  way  by 
gallantry  and  efficiency  to  be  Major-General  by  brevet 
and   Provost  Marshal-General  of  the  Army. 

Nantucket  may  well  be  proud  of  such  a  record  as 
this !  Those  who  nobly  did  their  duty  to  their  country 
and  still  siu-vive  must  be  proud  to  mingle  with  their 
thanks  of  gratitude  their  tears  of  sympathy  for  the 
heroic  dead — their  brothers  in  arms — whose  names  are 
inscribed  upon  the  enduring  monument  which  com- 
memorates them. 

The  total  amount  of  money  raised  and  expended  by 
Nantucket  for  State  aid  to  soldiers'  families  during  the 


176  Nantucket 

war  was  $27,492.20.  The  ladies  of  the  island  realized, 
by  a  Soldiers'  Fair,  $2038.12,  which  was  almost  equally- 
divided  between  the  Sanitary  Commission  and  the 
soldiers  and  their  families;  and  the  Ladies'  Soldier 
Relief  Society  raised  $2579.16  during  the  war  for  sol- 
diers and  their  families.  It  is  the  duty  of  men  to  fight, 
but  in  war,  as  in  peace,  it  is  the  angelic  prerogative  of 
womanhood  to  minister  relief  to  all  who  need  it. 

In  1865,  the  population  of  the  island  had  further 
decreased  to  4830. 

During  August  of  this  year  the  High-School  Alumni 
Association  held  its  first  meeting,  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Ferdinand  C.  Ewer  giving  the  oration.  The  Governor 
was  present  and  the  celebration  was  continued  for 
three  days.  In  1866,  the  second  meeting  took  place, 
and  a  third  in  1869,  after  which,  for  some  reason,  the 
meetings  were  discontinued.  Such  reunions  of  old 
schoolfellows  are  often  among  the  sweetest  joys  of  life, 
when  old  times  and  old  experiences  can  be  revived  and 
compared  with  the  present,  and  the  friendships  of 
youth  are  renewed,  and  new  friendships  formed  even 
in  old  age.  The  happiest  days  of  life  are  oftenest 
found  among  school-days,  and  the  sweetest  memories 
of  school-days  often  brighten  and  sweeten  old  age. 
Such  reunions  should  be  encouraged. 

Diu-ing  the  next  two  years,  1865-66,  ineffective  efforts 
were  made  once  more  to  revive  the  whaling  business,  but, 
although  some  ships  were  purchased  and  fitted,  the 
attempts  were  abortive  and  had  to  be  given  up. 

In  1867,  during  June  the  Children's  Aid  Society  was 
instituted.  In  1869,  the  last  whaling  ship — The  Oak — 
sailed  for  the  Pacific  on  November  15th,  but  she  never  re- 
turned, as  she  was  sold  at  Panama  during  the  same  year. 

In   1870,  the  condition  of  the  island  was  reversed 


The  Nineteenth  Century  177 

from  what  it  had  been  in  1842.  Then  her  famous 
industry  was  at  its  chmax,  and  then  also  her  dechne 
set  in.  In  1870,  she  has  reached  the  nadir  of  her  mis- 
fortunes, but  an  alluring  bow  of  promise  is  dawning 
over  her  which  re-awakens  Hope  from  her  slumber,  and 
the  prayers  of  those  who  had  never  lost  faith  in  her 
future  seem  about  to  be  answered  at  last. 

Not  a  ship  remains  to  the  island;  scarcely  a  sound  is 
heard  where  erstwhile  the  busy  hum  of  a  mighty  in- 
dustry echoed  and  re-echoed  among  her  glacial  hills: 
all  is  silent  save  the  lapping  of  the  waves  upon  her 
sandy  shores. 

According  to  the  Census  of  1870,  the  following  stand- 
ard names  of  Nantucketers  were  thus  recorded  among 
a  population  of  4120:  Coffin  185,  Folger  138,  Swain 
and  Gardner  112  each,  Chase  83,  Hussey  76,  Macy  76, 
Ray  67,  Fisher  64,  Coleman  61,  Dunham  53,  Starbuck 
50,  Brown  45,  Chadwick  41,  Barnard  38,  Clark  38, 
Gibbs  36,  Cathcart  35,  Winslow  34,  Smith  32,  Bunker 
30,  Paddack  30. 

As  far  back  as  1865,  Mark  Salom  of  Boston  had 
advocated  placing  the  island  in  a  proper  light  before 
the  country  as  a  health  resort.  The  interests  of  the 
people  had,  however,  been  identified  so  long  with  sea- 
faring and  whale-fishing  that,  at  first,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  afterwards,  the  new  idea  did  not  commend 
itself  as  of  much  practical  importance,  and  it  was 
considered  as  Utopian. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  regular  communication  with 
the  mainland  was  attracting  an  increasing  number  of 
visitors  to  the  island-shores,  year  after  year,  who  not 
only  spent  money  freely  among  the  islanders,  but 
served  to  advertise  the  many  attractions  of  the  island 
itself.     At  length,  about  1870,  some  of  the  more  far- 


178  Nantucket 

seeing  inhabitants  awoke  to  the  imperative  necessity 
of  developing  the  island  on  new  principles  in  accord- 
ance with  the  requirements  of  a  progressive  age,  and 
with  a  view  to  exploiting  its  many  natural  beauties 
and  hygienic  advantages. 

In  1872,  a  new  steamboat  service  was  inaugurated 
between  the  island  and  Woods  Hole,  and  with  its 
improved  accommodation  it  soon  became  popular  with 
tourists,  and  the  traffic  increased  rapidly. 

Tending  further  to  foster  and  develop  this  desirable 
enterprise,  a  few  prominent  citizens  instituted  an 
active  and  vigorous  campaign  with  a  slogan  of  "Two 
boats  a  day,"  by  which  they  sought  to  establish  a 
service  of  two  boats  daily  between  the  mainland  and 
the  island.  This  was  at  length  accomplished  by  the 
united  efforts  of  Joseph  S.  Barney,  the  Rev.  Ferdinand 
C.  Ewer,  Alexander  Starbuck,  and  William  B.  Drake, 
powerfully  re-enforced  by  active  correspondence  and 
editorial  comment  in  the  Inquirer  and  Mirror,  which 
eventually  convinced  the  public  of  its  absolute  neces- 
sity, in  order  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  island. 
There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  realization  of  this 
enterprise  secured,  in  no  small  degree,  the  subsequent 
recognition  of  Nantucket  as,  perhaps,  the  most  desira- 
ble health  resort  on  the  Atlantic  Coast. 

As  usual  the  proposition  met  with  considerable 
opposition,  in  accordance  with  the  instinctive  conserva- 
tism of  the  islanders,  and  their  determined  obstinacy 
with  regard  to  innovations  of  any  kind;  and,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  "two  boats  a  day"  was  not  practically  realized 
until  June  6,  1874,  although  the  press  and  many  of 
the  most  important  and  most  influential  Nantucketers 
had  been  contending  for  its  accomplishment  during 
the  preceding  years. 


CHAPTER  X 
NINETEENTH  CENTURY  (Continued)^ 

A  NEW  era  of  prosperity  was  inaugurated  by  the 
regular  installation  of  the  improved  steamboat  service 
to  and  from  the  island :  the  consequent  influx  of  visitors 
increased  rapidly  during  the  summer  months,  and  the 
islanders,  however  disinclined  at  first  to  provide  for 
them,  soon  foimd  that  the  coming  of  the  "strangers" 
was  a  source  of  considerable  profit  to  them.selves.  In 
the  meanwhile  the  town  authorities  were  fully  alive 
to  the  new  duties  devolving  upon  them  in  the  requisite 
development  of  the  island's  natural  charms,  and  in 
the  establishment  of  such  measures  as  were  calculated 
to  secxire  and  improve  its  hygienic  conditions  and 
advantages.  They  had  to  convert  an  obsolete  fishing- 
port  into  a  sanitary  and  attractive  summer  resort; 
but  Nature  had  already  done  so  much  for  the  island 
that  cooperative  zeal  and  persistent  energy  were  all 
that  were  required  to  merit  and  ensure  success. 

Many  of  the  islanders,  however,  fought  as  long  as 
possible  against  the  innovations  proposed  from  time  to 

'  The  facts  recorded  in  this  chapter  are  so  numerous  that  it  has  been 
found  impossible,  for  the  most  part,  to  weave  them  into  a  continuous 
historical  narrative.  It  has,  therefore,  been  deemed  best  to  transcribe 
them  in  chronological  order. 

179 


i8o  Nantucket 

time,  but  in  most  cases  they  were  forced  by  the  yearly 
increasing  influx  of  visitors  to  provide  accommodation 
and  entertainment  for  them. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  disposition  of 
Nantucketers  has  always  been  first  to  oppose  strongly 
any  innovations,  hovv'ever  calculated  to  benefit  the 
community,  and  then  to  relent  and  regret,  while  gladly 
acknowledging  the  beneficence  of  the  schemes  which 
they  had  done  their  utmost  to  frustrate. 

Now  that  many  of  the  innovations  have  been  adopted, 
developed,  and  are  in  good  working  order,  who  would 
say  that  their  institution  was  not  a  boon  and  a  blessing? 
Who  would  dare  to  offer  opposition  now?  But  it  was 
ever  thus:  primitive  minds  and  ideas  have  always 
combated  the  march  of  civilization  until  overcome  by 
the  progressive  factors  of  education  and  experience. 
The  truth  of  this  assertion  will  be  apparent  during  the 
course  of  this  chapter. 

But  to  return.  Hotels  and  summer  cottages  were  built 
and  the  town  took  on  new  lite.  As  usual  the  brunt 
of  the  hard  work  fell  upon  the  women  of  the  island, 
who  were  ever  distinguished  not  only  for  their  industry 
and  prevision,  but  for  their  preeminent  biisiness  quali- 
fications. Since  the  ruination  of  the  whaling  industry 
dtiring  the  forties,  the  men,  who  were  then  in  their  prime 
and  inured  to  every  hardship,  had  become,  in  perhaps 
the  majority  of  cases,  aged  and  incapacitated,  and  were 
no  longer  eager  to  enter  into  a  new  mode  of  life  for  which 
they  were  utterly  unfitted.  Too,  the  stalwart  young 
men  of  the  island  had  departed  in  droves  to  seek  their 
fortune  elsewhere.  But  the  women,  ever  ready  for 
emergencies,  had  to  fit  out  their  homes  and  cater  for 
the  visitors  who  were  coming  in  increasing  hosts  every 
summer  to  their  shores.     Who  can  even  enumerate  the 


The  Nineteenth  Century  i8i 

new  duties  which  this  peaceful  revolution  had  imposed 
upon  them,  or  would  have  the  temerity  to  assert  that 
they,  in  any  way,  failed  in  their  faithful  discharge? 

During  the  eighth  decade  of  the  century,  moreover, 
there  was  kindled  in  the  community  a  spirit  which 
takes  care  of  its  public  buildings,  its  churches,  its  insti- 
tutions of  learning,  and  which  encouraged  the  founding 
of  educational  organizations,  establishments  of  thrift, 
and  schools  for  the  arts,  and  this  spirit  manifested  itself 
throughout  the  island,  and  with  considerable  effect. 

1870.  From  1870,  the  summer  visitors  annually 
increased  and  the  islanders  were  kept  busily  engaged 
in  making  preparations  for  their  comfort  and  in  pro- 
viding for  their  accommodation. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  do  more  than  record  the 
general  progress,  adding  merely  a  more  or  less  detached 
note  on  any  point  of  interest  as  it  arises. 

1871.  Ini87i,  the  Cash  House — so  long  the  sentinel 
of  the  Newtown  Gate — which  stood  as  late  as  1821, 
w^as  demolished,  and  this  old  landmark  had  siu-vived 
for  over  150  years.' 

During  this  year  also,  on  June  27th,  a  grand  Masonic 
Festival  was  held,  and,  before  the  close  of  the  year,  a 
large  shoe  factory  was  established  in  the  old  West 
Grammar-School  building  by  Hayden  and  Mitchell. 

1872-73.  There  was  an  unusually  heav}^  snowstorm 
on  the  island  during  March,  1872 — the  heaviest  since 
December,  1867.  The  recently  erected  factory  of 
Hayden  and  Mitchell  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  August 

3.  1873. 

1874.  As  already  stated  "two  boats  a  day"  were 
inaugurated  on  June  6,  1874,  and  since  this  event  the 
number  of    visitors  to  the  island  materially  increased, 

'  William  Cash  died  October  23,  1828,  aged  eighty-eight  years. 


1 82  Nantucket 

320  passengers  having  landed  from  the  boat  on  August 
13th,  and  there  were  several  thousands  of  visitors  during 
the  season. 

The  Island  Review,  a  new  paper,  published  by  Folger 
&  Rich,  appeared  on  August  24th. 

General  Grant  visited  Nantucket  on  August  28th. 

1875.  On  June  5,  1875,  the  Monument  (in  Monu- 
ment Square),  erected  in  memory  of  the  brave  citizens 
who  gave  their  lives  for  their  country  during  the  Civil 
War,  was  dedicated  on  Memorial  Day. 

1876.  The  Nantucket  Literary  Union  was  instituted 
and  held  its  first  meeting  on  February  3,  1876. 

1877.  The    Sherburne    Lyceum   was    organized    in 

1877,  met  first  in  the  small  hall  in  the  Atlantic  Hall 
building,  and  later  at  Wendell's  Hall.  It  had  a  large 
membership  for  many  years,  and  most  interesting 
meetings  at  which  lively  and  interesting  debates,  etc., 
were  held,  which  did  much  to  stimulate  the  general 
uplift  which  had  been  inaugurated. 

The  election  of  President  Hayes  was  celebrated  by 
general  rejoicing  and  a  display  of  illuminations  on  the 
island,  March  5,  1877.  As  first  suggested  by  Mr.  F. 
C.  Sanford  during  November,  the  Monument  to  the 
Forefathers  was  erected  near  Maxcy's  Pond  before 
the  close  of  this  year. 

1878.  A  terrible  storm  visited  the  island  on  Satur- 
day, October  12,  1878,  and  very  serious  damage  to 
property  resulted.  Nothing  equal  to  it  had  occurred 
since  the  October  gale  of  1841.  The  loss  was  variously 
estimated  at  from  $20,000  to  $50,000. 

The  Island  Review   ceased  publication  August  31, 

1878.  The  Nantucket  Journal,  under  the  editorship 
of  Arthur  H.  Gardner,  was  first  issued  September  27, 
1878. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  183 

1879.  A  protracted  storm  visited  the  island  on 
March  31,  1879,  during  which  many  vessels  were  dis- 
abled or  lost,  while  a  number  of  deaths  resulted,  and 
there  was  a  large  general  loss  to  vessel  property  and 
cargoes. 

After  a  lapse  of  twenty-five  years,  steam  service 
between  Nantucket  and  New  Bedford  was  restored, 
on  June  30,  1879.  The  site  of  the  homestead  of 
Tristram  Coffin,  south  of  Capaum  Pond,  was  marked 
by  a  monolith,  during  the  last  week  of  September. 

The  establishment,  during  1878-79,  of  the  water- 
works at  Wannacomet,  drawing  the  supply  of  water 
from  spring-fed  Wannacomet  Pond,  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  town,  was  one  of  the  most  benefi- 
cent innovations  ever  introduced  upon  the  island.  The 
entire  scheme  was  propounded,  planned,  and  completed 
by  Moses  Joy,  Jr.,  a  native  Nantucketer,  in  face  of 
bitter  public  opposition,  which  was  not  overcome  until 
the  town  of  Nantucket  was  plenteously  supplied  with 
excellent  water;  and  this  inestimable  boon  remains  as 
a  monument  to  his  persistency,  enterprise,  and  skill. 

The  pond  has  an  area  of  almost  eight  acres,  and  a 
depth  stated  to  be  eighteen  feet.  The  water  is  pure 
and  of  good  quality,  and  is  tested  once  in  every  month. 
The  original  pumping  engine  had  a  capacity  of  about 
five  hundred  gallons  per  minute,  but,  in  1900-01,  a 
second  pumping  station  was  built,  and  a  second  line 
of  piping  laid  to  the  town,  which  safeguards  against 
any  accident  or  emergency.  The  reservoir  is  one  hun- 
dred and  four  feet  above  low  water-mark,  and  is  about 
forty-two  feet  from  the  ground,  the  pond  itself  being  a 
few  feet  higher  than  the  sea-level,  and  even  from  a 
distance  it  forms  a  conspicuous  object. 

The  summer  supply  of  water  is  said  to  represent 


i84  Nantucket 

300,000  gallons,  and  60,000  in  winter.  There  are  some 
fifty -five  or  sixty  hydrants  in  the  town,  for  use  in  case 
of  fire. 

1880.  During  1880,  the  Legislature  granted  a 
charter  to  the  Nantucket  Railroad  Co.  on  April  19th, 
and  in  the  following  month  a  single  narrow-gauge  line 
was  begun.  But  it  was  not  until  July  4,  1881,  that 
three  miles  of  the  road  were  completed,  and  transit 
established  between  Nantucket  and  Surf- Side. 

It  is  stated  that  during  this  summer  30,000  passengers 
were  carried  over  the  road  without  an  accident. 

On  May  4,  1880,  groimd  was  broken  for  the  Nantucket 
Railroad  extension. 

An  appropriation  of  $50,000  was  passed  by  Congress 
for  the  improvement  of  the  harbor,  as  a  port  of  refuge, 
on  June  ist.  On  August  ist,  the  Bug-lights  under  the 
Cliff  were  temporarily  discontinued,  and  a  successful 
trial  of  the  Wannacomet  waterworks  was  realized. 

1 88 1.  On  Tuesday,  August  16,  1881,  the  reunion 
festivities  of  the  Clan  Coffin  began  and  lasted  until 
the  following  Thursday.  Great  preparations  had  been 
made  for  this  auspicious  occasion,  and  members  came 
from  every  part  of  the  country  to  join  in  the  commemo- 
ration of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  death  of 
Tristram  Coffin,  the  first  of  his  race  who  settled  in 
America.  The  members  of  the  clan,  to  the  number  of 
over  five  hundred,  went  by  train  to  Surf-Side,  where  a 
sumptuous  banquet  awaited  them. 

Tristram  Coffin,  of  New  York,  was  the  orator  of  the 
day,  and  in  an  interesting  and  eloquent  address  he 
dilated  upon  the  Coffin  family  and  its  association  with 
the  history  of  the  island.  His  speech  was  listened  to 
with  profound  attention,  and  was  received  with  enthusi- 
astic applause.     The  address  of  Hon.  Charles  Carlton 


The  Nineteenth  Century  185 

Coffin  on  "The  American  Citizen"  was  remarkable 
in  many  ways,  and  was  characterized  by  subhmity  of 
thought  and  elegance  of  diction. 

Perfect  unanimity  and  the  most  cordial  feeling  per- 
vaded this  immense  family  concourse  throughout  the 
notable  festival. ' 

In  this  year  also,  the  "Nantucket  Improvement  and 
Industrial  Association"  was  instituted. 

On  February  4th,  five  oxen  were  driven  over  the  ice 
from  the  steamer  to  the  shore,  it  being  the  coldest  day 
for  years. 

At  the  annual  town-meeting,  February  21,  1881,  a 
resolution  was  adopted  formally  accepting  the  gift  of 
a  new  town-clock  from  W.  H.  Starbuck,  which  duly 
arrived  on  May  23d. 

Work  commenced  upon  the  new  jetty  on  April  26th. 
On  December  20,  1881,  a  new  gravestone  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  Captain  John  Gardner's  grave  in  the 
Forefathers'  Burial-place  at  Wannacomet,  and  the  old 
stone,  which  had  become  dilapidated,  was  removed  to 
the  oldest  house,  where  it  still  remains. 

The  shoals  around  Nantucket  have  been  accumu- 
lating from  time  immemorial  and  have  always  been 
not  only  an  insuperable  barrier  to  maritime  commerce, 
but  at  all  times  a  source  of  serious  danger  to  navigation 
around  the  island.  These  obstructions  and  dangers 
have  long  been  recognized  and  deplored,  yet  for  many 
years  the  government  tiirned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  petitions 
for  aid  in  removing  them  or  in  making  them  viable. 
In  face  of  the  requisite  outlay,  it  was  obviously  as 
useless  as  impossible  for  the  islanders,  imaided,  to  un- 
dertake such  a  gigantic  proposition,  and  even  when, 

'  A  full  report  of  these  exercises  will  be  found  in  the  Nantucket 
Inquirer  of  August  20th,  1881. 


1 86  Nantucket 

by  their  own  exertions  they  had  organized  the  great- 
est whale-fishing  industry  in  the  world,  nothing  was 
done  to  mitigate  the  evil. 

In  1826,  the  whole  bay  was  surveyed  from  Brant 
Point  to  Great  Point,  and  diiring  the  following  year 
extensive  dredging  operations  were  carried  out  for  two 
or  three  years;  but  it  M^as  found  to  be  an  Augean  task, 
for  the  subsequent  autumnal  gales  silted  up  the  sand 
again  and  neutralized  all  the  work  that  had  been  done. 
Several  other  projects  were  suggested  from  time  to  time, 
but  it  was  not  until  1879  that  another  careful  govern- 
ment survey  was  instituted,  and  General  Warren 
recommended  the  construction  of  two  jetties,  one  ex- 
tending into  the  Sound  at  Brant  Point,  and  the  other 
from  Coatue. 

An  appropriation  of  $50,000  was  secured  from  the 
government,  and  in  1881  the  construction  of  the  west- 
ern jetty  was  commenced.  The  eastern  jetty  was 
begun  a  few  years  later.  From  time  to  time  consider- 
able sea-dredging  has  also  been  done,  and  general 
conditions  are  much  improved,  but  there  is  still  much 
to  be  done  in  this  direction,  and  eventually  it  will  be 
necessary  to  extend  the  jetties. 

During  the  same  month,  August  30th,  a  plot  of  land 
intended  for  a  Union  Chapel  for  all  denominations — 
the  gift  of  H.  G.  Brooks,  of  New  York,  was  dedicated 
for  that  purpose,  at  Siasconset. 

President  Arthur  visited  Nantucket  on  September 
27,  1882. 

1883.  On  the  8th  of  January  occurred  one  of  the 
most  severe  snow  storms  that  for  years  had  been  ex- 
perienced on  the  island. 

The  desirability  of  instituting  a  sewerage  system  in 
Nantucket  was  strongly  advocated,  but  more  strongly 


The  Nineteenth  Century  187 

opposed,  in  consonance  with  the  conservative  predilec- 
tions of  the  islanders. 

March  1st,  work  was  commenced  on  Surf -Side  Hotel, 
and  it  was  opened  for  public  use  on  July  4th,  the  occa- 
sion being  celebrated  by  general  rejoicing. 

On  March  i8th,  was  duly  solemnized  the  first  w^ed- 
ding  that  ever  occurred  on  Tuckernuck. 

July  15th,  the  Union  Chapel  was  first  opened  at 
Sconset.  On  the  17th,  a  musical  and  literary  enter- 
tainment was  given  to  celebrate  the  event,  but  the 
formal  dedication  did  not  take  place  until  July  26,  1883. 

August  29th,  an  unusuall}^  heavy  surf  at  Surf-Side 
was  witnessed  by  thousands  of  people,  the  terrific  fury 
of  the  ocean  being  phenomenal. 

September  loth,  the  taking  down  of  Atlantic  Hall 
on  Main  Street  commenced;  it  was  removed  to  Brant 
Point  to  become  part  of  Hotel  Nantucket. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  Centre  Street 
was  dedicated  on  September  24,  1823,  and  its  sixtieth 
anniversary  was  observed  on  September  23,  1883. 

November  20th,  the  hands  of  the  town-clock  were 
changed  to  "standard  time." 

Diiring  the  autumn  of  1883,  in  addition  to  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Springfield  and  Surf-Side  Hotels,  the  Ocean 
View  annex  at  Sunset  Heights  and  the  Nantucket 
Hotel  at  Brant  Point  were  erected.  The  latter  was 
two  hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  length  and  with  a 
spacious  piazza  and  balconies. 

1884.  January  7th,  the  harbor  was  sealed  with  ice. 
Another  mighty  surf  occurred  on  the  south  side  on 
January  9th,  hills  and  bluffs  were  swept  away,  and  the 
bed  of  the  railroad  was  seriously  endangered.  Febru- 
ary 4th,  the  proposed  installation  of  a  sewerage  system 
was  further  considered  from  a  hygienic  point  of  view, 


1 88  Nantucket 

and  on  the  9th  official  reports  appeared  concerning  the 
matter. 

On  February  23d,  was  organized  as  a  corporation, 
a  new  cemetery  company  to  be  known  as  the  Mount 
Vernon  Cemetery  Co.  This  was  for  the  purpose  of 
controlHng  the  land  adjoining  Prospect  Hill  Cemetery. 

March  226.,  a  new  bell-buo}^  was  placed  on  the  bar. 

On  July  8th,  the  Nantucket  Railway  was  extended 
to  Siasconset,  when  a  spirited  celebration  was  held. 

August  loth,  a  shock  of  earthquake  was  felt  all  over 
the  island.  September  loth,  the  hottest  day  of  the 
year— 88°. 

1885.  During  this  year  there  is  little  of  special 
interest  to  record  concerning  Nantucket  town,  but 
Siasconset  made  marked  progress  in  its  development. 
Many  new  buildings  were  added,  the  railway  facilities 
naturally  attracted  an  increased  host  of  visitors,  a 
post-office  was  established,  and  the  many  attractions 
of  this  famous  village  speedily  enhanced  its  popularity. 

Some  notice  must,  however,  be  taken  of  General 
Grant's  funeral  which  took  place  on  Sattuday,  August 
9th,  and  very  interesting  and  impressive  memorial 
services  were  held  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Nantucket,  at  which  Captain  Dahlgren  delivered  a 
spirited  address  on  "Grant  as  a  Soldier,"  and  the  Rev, 
R.  R.  Shippen,  of  Washington,  followed  with  an  eloquent 
tribute  on  "General  Grant  as  a  Civilian."  A  touching 
and  sympathetic  memorial,  in  blank  verse,  was  sub- 
sequently read  by  the  gifted  author,  Dr.  Arthtu"  El  well 
Jenks.     Similar  services  were  also  held  at  Siasconset. 

1886.  A  terrific  storm  occurred  which  involved  great 
damage  to  property. 

On  April  20th,  the  installation  of  the  electric  tele- 
graph on  the  island  was  completed. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  189 

On  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  a  citizens'  meeting 
was  held  to  celebrate  the  completion  of  the  cable 
between  Nantucket  and  the  mainland.  In  order  to 
carry  out  this  purpose,  a  cable  had  been  laid,  in  1840, 
by  way  of  Woods  Hole,  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  Tucker- 
nuck,  but  it  proved  unsuccessful,  the  only  important 
message  received  through  it  being  news  of  the  loss  of 
the  steamer  Lexington,  by  fire,  on  January  13,  1840, 
when  one  hundred  and  forty  lives  were  lost.  Another 
submarine  cable  was  laid  between  Great  Point,  Nan- 
tucket, and  Monomoy  Point,  Cape  Cod,  on  August 
19,  1856,  but  this  also  proved  a  failure,  and  it  was  not 
until  October  18,  1886,  that  a  satisfactory  cable  was 
laid  by  the  Government  across  Nantucket  and  the 
Vineyard  Sounds.  This  is  still  in  every  way  competent 
and  effective. 

During  this  year  also,  a  station  of  the  U.  S.  Weather 
Bureau  was  established  on  Nantucket.  The  geographi- 
cal position  of  the  island  renders  this  easterly  station 
most  essential,  and  of  great  importance.  All  meteoro- 
logical observations  are  daily  reported  to  Washington, 
and  when  the  approach  of  storms  is  indicated,  warnings 
are  radiated  by  the  cable  in  various  directions.  The 
station  is  well  equipped  with  the  most  complex  and 
delicate  instruments  and  appliances  requisite  for  all 
meteorological  purposes,  and  is  in  charge  of  a  coiirteous 
and  competent  observer. 

The  anniversary  of  that  ancient,  time-honored  festi- 
val of  sheep-shearing  was  celebrated  at  the  Quaise 
farm  by  Harrison  Gardner  on  June  21st,  when  the 
Union  Benevolent  Society  and  friends  were  present  to 
the  number  of  three  hundred  and  thoroughly  enjoyed 
themselves  in  the  realization  of  old  scenes  and  modern 
pleasures. 


190  Nantucket 

1887.  The  "Sea-Cliff"  was  built  in  this  year,  and 
opened  under  the  management  of  Mrs.  Pettee. 

1888.  The  personal  property  of  Nan- 
tucket amounted  to      ....     $1,312,264 
and  the  real  property  to    .     .     .     $1,572,334 


(From  Assessor's  Book)      .     .     .     $2,884,798 

The  Nantucket  season  diiring  1888  was  most  suc- 
cessful, thousands  of  strangers  having  visited  the 
island,  and  the  weather  having  been  almost  uniformly 
enjoyable. 

During  three  days  of  the  week  ending  December  ist, 
a  dreadful  wind-storm  visited  Nantucket  and  did 
irreparable  damage  to  property,  the  railroad  having 
perhaps  sufifered  most. 

1889.  On  August  14th,  the  electric -light  plant  was 
first  operated  on  the  island,  and  the  lights  were  satis- 
factorily tested. 

On  December  27th,  the  Muskeget  Life-Saving  Station 
was  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

1890.  Up  to  this  time  the  island  never  had  so  many 
visitors  as  during  this  year,  although  an  epidemic  of 
grippe  was  prevalent. 

On  February  29th,  a  blizzard,  and  on  October  27th 
a  cyclonic  storm,  did  much  damage. 

The  Athenaeum  was  made  a  free  library  in  May,  by 
an  arrangement  with  the  town  authorities. 

Once  more  the  sewerage  question  was  discussed  and 
reported  upon. 

1 89 1.  March  was  a  month  of  storms;  indeed  1891 
was  a  stormy  year,  for  from  the  first  week  in  May  until 
the  last  week  in  June  was  the  greatest  storm  period 
since  1832-33. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  191 

Point  Breeze  Hotel  was  opened  for  its  first  season 
on  June  20,  1892.  On  February  8th,  at  a  special  town- 
meeting,  the  report  as  to  a  sewerage  scheme  was 
adopted,  and  an  appropriation  of  $50,000  voted  for  its 
being  carried  out. 

Among  the  closing  acts  of  the  annual  town-meeting 
held  on  March  2d,  was  the  passing  of  a  resolution  to 
the  following  effect:  "That  we  the  voters  of  Nantucket 
in  annual  town-meeting  assembled,  will  put  forward  all 
our  energies  and  use  all  reasonable  means,  both  in  our 
corporate  capacity  and  by  encouraging  individual 
efforts,  to  make  Nantucket  one  of  the  most  popular 
resorts  in  America." 

At  this  meeting  also,  after  being  agitated  for  seven 
years,  the  sewerage  question  was  settled  affirmatively, 
the  votes  being  "Yes"  334,  "No"  148. 

On  March  31st,  it  was  resolved  to  increase  the  num- 
ber of  electric  lights  in  the  streets. 

On  April  8th,  a  franchise  was  granted  to  extend  the 
railroad  to  Siasconset  by  a  new  and  shorter  route, 
under  the  management  of  the  Nantucket  Central 
Railroad  Co.;  and  an  additional  appropriation  was 
granted  during  this  month  for  further  work  on  the 
jetties.  During  April,  also,  a  new  filter  was  built  for 
the  waterworks. 

In  November,  a  new  light  ship,  "No.  54,"  was  placed 
at  the  mouth  of  Nantucket  Sound;  and,  at  the  end  of 
the  month,  a  violent  tempest,  with  a  maximum  velocity 
of  sixty  miles  an  hour,  visited  the  island.  However, 
although  the  hurricane  was  terrific,  little  or  no  per- 
manent damage  resulted. 

1893.  In  this  year  there  is  nothing  of  historic 
interest  to  chronicle  except  perhaps  ' '  the  usual  August 
storm,"    which   occurred   on   August  20th   and   which 


192  Nantucket 

attained  a  maximum  velocity  of  fifty-nine  miles  and 
caused  much  and  irreparable  damage. 

1894.  On  April  14th,  Alexander  vStarbuck  proposed 
the  institution  of  an  association  consisting  of  the  Sons 
and  Daughters  of  Nantucket,  which  was  duly  estab- 
lished and  incorporated,  and  an  annual  meeting,  with 
a  large  and  progressive  membership,  has,  every  year 
since  its  inauguration,  been  held  in  Boston,  where  the 
islanders  meet  for  recreation  and  social  enjoyment. 
The  meetings  are  usually  held  during  November,  at 
one  of  the  large  Boston  hotels,  and  while  conducing 
much  to  promote  the  confraternity  of  Nantucketers, 
they  have  brought  them  together  from  their  new  homes 
on  the  mainland,  made  them  acquainted  with  each 
other,  while  renewing  old  friendships,  and  tending  to 
foster  ties  of  amity  and  camaraderie  among  new  friends. 

On  June  i8th,  a  devastating  whirlwind  occurred  on 
the  island.  During  September  a  great  fire  broke  out 
in  Gibbs's  Swamp  and  the  surrounding  neighborhood. 

The  Nantucket  Historical  Association  was  established 
in  May,  1894.  The  members  constituting  the  Council 
purchased  the  old  Quaker  schoolhouse,  on  Fair  Street 
(built  in  1838),  and  became  incorporated  during  the 
following  July.  Here  a  varied  and  valuable  miscella- 
neous collection,  consisting  of  maritime  implements, 
domestic  and  foreign  curios  and  antiquities,  pictures, 
books,  maps,  charts,  and  historical  sundries,  soon 
accumulated,  and  rapidly  increased  to  such  an  extent 
that,  in  1903,  the  Council  resolved  to  erect  at  once  a 
fireproof  building  in  order  to  protect  and  display  the 
manifold  objects  with  which  they  had  been  entrusted. 
In  1900,  the  Museum,  which  had  been  housed  in  the 
Athenaeum,  and  which,  owing  to  alterations  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  latter  institution,  the  trustees  were 


The  Nineteenth  Century  193 

willing  to  transfer,  was  turned  over  to  the  Historical 
Association,  and  the  union  of  the  two  collections  con- 
stituted an  historical  and  representative  collection 
such  as  is  probably  unsurpassed  by  any  other  provincial 
museum  in  the  State.  The  new  fireproof  building 
was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  meeting-house,  and  con- 
sists of  a  large  basement,  ground-floor,  and  gallery, 
with  a  vestibule  of  one  story  on  the  east  fagade,  and  the 
premises  are  all  that  could  be  desired,  so  far  as  utility, 
lighting,  convenience,  and  ample  room  are  concerned. 
The  old  meeting-,  or  schoolhouse,  is  still  used  for  annual 
or  other  meetings,  and  remains  much  as  it  was  when 
it  was  used  for  religious  purposes.  The  Council  was 
fortunate  in  receiving  bequests  which  not  only  enabled 
them  to  liquidate  all  the  expenses  of  building,  but  to 
serve  as  a  partial  endowment  and  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  their  publications. 

Work  on  the  new  State  road  to  Siasconset  was  be- 
gun at  Barnard's  Valley,  on  October  2d. 

1895.  An  epidemic  of  grippe  was  prevalent  on  the 
island  during  June. 

Nantucket  Island  was  widely  advertised  through 
circulars  of  its  approaching  centennial  celebration.  On 
July  9th,  a  century  had  passed  since  the  name  of  the 
town  was  changed  from  Sherburne  to  Nantucket,  and 
this  occasion  the  islanders  resolved  to  commemorate. 
Moreover,  the  town  having  been  incorporated  in  1671, 
the  auspicious  occasion  really  partook  of  the  nature  of 
a  bi-centenary. 

No  more  extensive  demonstration  was  ever  attempted 
on  "the  little  purple  island."  It  was  held  on  July  9th, 
loth,  and  nth,  and  was  most  successful  and  impressive, 
being  most  happily  conceived  and  thoughtfully  executed. 

Hundreds  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  island, 


194  Nantucket 

who  had  wandered  far  and  near  and  to  many  climes, 
returned  to  their  island  home  to  share  her  rejoicing, 
and  to  renew  the  inspiring  associations  of  childhood; 
and  right  heartily  were  they  welcomed  to  the  bosom 
of  the  fond  mother  who  bore  them.  The  old  town  was 
joyously  arrayed,  almost  every  house  being  gaily  deco- 
rated, and  while  the  national  flag  adorned  every 
point  of  vantage,  streamers  and  banners  of  every  color 
fluttered  brightly  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other. 
Triumphal  arches,  masses  of  taste  and  coloring,  decked 
the  prominent  places  of  the  principal  thoroughfares, 
and  everywhere,  and  in  every  way,  the  islanders  showed 
how  heartily  and  with  what  unanimity  they  had  re- 
solved to  make  the  occasion  one  never  to  be  forgotten. 

Sheep-shearing,  festivals,  and  squantums  were  re- 
instituted,  and  the  quondam  glories  of  the  famous 
whale-fisheries  were  reproduced  as  far  as  possible  once 
more. 

The  proceedings  commenced  with  the  pealing  of 
bells  and  artillery  salutes,  which  re-echoed  over  the 
ocean,  while  the  rapturous  cheers  from  many  hundreds 
of  happy  hearts  made  the  island  ring  with  joy. 

Literary  exercises,  as  varied  as  interesting,  as  exten- 
sive as  excellent,  were  held  in  the  North  Church,  con- 
sisting for  the  most  part  of  centennial  odes,  and  of 
many  masterly  addresses  on  appropriate  historical, 
social,  and  religious  subjects.  In  the  evening  a  ban- 
quet was  held  at  which  covers  were  laid  for  1 150  guests. 
As  a  chronicler  has  well  said:  "It  was  a  universal  week 
of  rejoicing,  love,  and  good-will  to  all  mankind,  which 
ought  to  make  every  Nantucketer  sound  the  gladsome 
paeans  of  Nantucket  for  ever."' 

■  For  a  full  report  of  this  notable  commemoration,  vide  supplement  to 
Nantucket  Inquirer,  issued  July  13,  1895. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  195 

The  Nantucket  Central  Railroad  extension  was 
finished  to  Sconset,  and  the  first  train  ran  through, 
amid  much  rejoicing,  on  August  15th. 

On  November  27th,  a  fierce  gale  (fifty  or  sixty  miles 
an  hour),  wild  waves,  snow,  high  tides,  and  cold  ternpera- 
ture  made  up  an  experience  which  those  who  realized 
it  will  not  soon  forget. 

1897.  The  "Old  Mill"  was  purchased  by  Miss 
Caroline  L.  W.  French  at  public  auction,  and  presented 
to  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association  on  August  4th. 
The  price  realized  was  $885. 

1898.  January  31st.  A  storm  of  tremendous  energy 
burst  over  the  island,  but  comparatively  little  damage 
was  done. 

During  April  of  this  year,  legislative  authority  was 
granted  to  the  town  to  spend  $1000  annually  in  adver- 
tising, and  the  resolution  was  approved  by  the  Governor 
on  April  26th. 

On  July  29th,  a  collision  occurred  between  the  Nan- 
tucket and  Gay  Head  steamers,  off  Nobska  Light,  in  a 
fog.  No  Uves  were  lost,  but  the  Nantucket  was  badly 
damaged. 

Saturday  and  Sunday,  November  26th  and  27th, 
a  terrible  storm  (popularly  known  since  as  "the  Port- 
land storm,"  from  the  loss  of  the  steamer  Portland 
with  all  on  board),  having  its  centre  at  Nantucket, 
burst  over  the  island,  and  did  damage  to  the  amount 
of  $5000 ;  the  wind  attained  a  velocity  of  ninety  miles 
an  hour,  and  the  tide  rose  to  an  unprecedented  height. 

1899.  February  12th  to  15th,  an  unusual  spell  of 
cold  and  storm,  followed  by  a  severe  fall  of  snow,  was 
ushered  in.  The  island  became  ice-bound.  During 
this  month  the  cold  weather  exceeded  in  severity  and 
duration  anything  that  can  be  remembered. 


196  Nantucket 

Union  Street  was  repaved,  beginning  April  loth. 
The  work  of  building  the  Orange  Street  road  commenced 
during  the  week  ending  April  29th. 

1900,  Grippe  was  again  prevalent  on  the  island, 
during  January. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  year  there  was  much 
talk  of  progress  in  many  directions.  In  connection 
with  the  exploitation  of  Coatue,  a  Coatue  Building 
Syndicate  was  formed  and  builders  were  engaged,  a 
railway  to  the  Cliff  was  projected,  a  street  railroad  was 
proposed  and  discussed,  a  sewerage  system  for  Sconset 
was  considered,  the  relaying  of  Nantucket  streets,  a 
new  road  to  Monomoy,  tree  planting,  the  booming  of 
Surf-Side  and  general  building  operations ;  all  these  had 
their  advocates,  but  the  projects  failed  to  materialize, 
and  for  a  period  peace  and  quietude  reigned  once  more 
upon  the  island.  Such  spasmodic  activities  had  been 
noticed  aforetime  with  similar  results,  and  no  doubt 
this  gave  rise  to  the  saying  that  "the  authorities  of 
Nantucket  seem  to  wake  up  and  to  do  something  once 
in  seven  years!" 

About  the  middle  of  August,  twenty-seven  miles  of 
electric  wire  had  been  installed  on  the  island,  and  nearly 
one  thousand  incandescent  lights. 

1 901.  An  unusually  heavy  snowfall,  eight  inches, 
occurred  on  the  island  on  February  23d,  affording  a 
splendid  opportunity  for  sleighing. 

The  leasing  of  Long  Pond  and  Madeket  Ditch  was 
again  considered  after  many  previous  discussions. 

After  several  previous  trials,  Nantucket  Central 
Railroad  new  service  was  instituted  on  July  4th. 

Wireless  telegraphy  was  installed  at  Siasconset  during 
August,  1 90 1,  and  Nantucket  Island  was  honored 
when  it  was  selected  as  the  first  station  in  America 


The  Nineteenth  Century  197 

whereon  was  erected  Marconi's  wonderful  invention 
for  the  transmission  and  reception  of  messages  to  and 
from  steamers  on  the  ocean.  This  surpassing  effort 
of  inventive  genius  has  indeed  proved  an  inestimable 
boon  to  the  "ships  at  sea,"  and  it  would  be  rash  to 
forecast  the  future  possibilities  of  this  marvelous  new 
system  of  intercommunication. ' 

A  loop  from  the  telegraph  cable  connects  the  office 
to  the  mainland,  and  the  service  is  open  both  by  day 
and  by  night. 

The  first  message  received  was  from  the  steamer 
Lucania. 

The  tide  of  travel  to  the  island  during  the  season  of 
1 90 1  tried  the  capacity  of  the  hotels  and  boarding- 
houses  to  a  degree  never  before  experienced,  and 
augured  well  for  the  continued  success  of  Nantucket 
as  a  sea  resort. 

1902.  At  a  town-meeting  held  on  February  3d, 
appropriations  were  voted  to  the  amount  of  $60,335, 
and  a  bill  to  acquire  the  Cliff  Bathing  Beach  as  public 
property  was  withdrawn,  owing  to  the  opposition  of 
the  committee. 

The  River  and  Harbor  Bill  providing  for  the  expen- 
diture of  $70,000  passed  the  U.  S.  Senate  on  April  21st, 
$35,000  to  be  expended  upon  Nantucket  and  Hyannis. 

After  much  discussion  at  the  annual  town-meeting 
held  on  April  21st,  by  a  vote  of  forty-nine  to  ten  it  was 
decided  to  raise  $20,000  on  notes,  and  $40,000  by  taxa- 
tion, and  thus  maintain  a  lower  tax  rate. 

The  manufacture  of  hygienic  ice  was  established  on 
the  island  during  April,  1902. 

On  May  2d,  a  bill  to  place  the  regulation  of  fares 

'  An  accurate  description  of  the  system  and  its  modes  of  operation 
will  be  found  in  the  Nantucket  Inquirer  and  Mirror  August  lo,  1901. 


198  Nantucket 

and  freights  on  steamboat  lines  plying  between  ports 
of  Massachusetts  iinder  the  control  of  the  Railroad 
Commission  was  carried  in  the  House,  after  strenuous 
opposition  and  spirited  debate,  through  the  persistence 
of  Arthur  H.  Gardner.  St.  Paul's  Church  was  con- 
secrated on  St.  Barnabas  Day,  June  11,  1902. 

During  September,  Sconset  wireless  station  was 
lighted  by  electric  light;  and  the  season  closed  as  one 
of  the  gayest  and  most  successful  which  the  village 
had  known. 

A  lack  of  coal  supply,  owing  to  a  great  strike  among 
the  coal  miners,  made  the  islanders  very  anxious. 

On  Tuesday,  December  9th,  occurred  the  last  zero 
temperature  recorded  on  the  island,  viz:  1°  below. 

1903.  The  minds  of  the  islanders  were  relieved  by 
a  supply  of  coal  arriving  on  January  4th. 

$60,852.67  was  appropriated  at  February  town- 
meeting,  a  large  portion  of  which  was  devoted  to  roads. 

A  bill  was  also  passed  by  the  Massachusetts  Legisla- 
ture authorizing  the  town  to  purchase  the  Cliff  Bathing 
Beach  through  a  loan  by  the  State  to  be  repaid  by  the 
town. 

In  June,  an  act  was  passed  enabling  Nantucket  to 
provide  a  water  supply  for  Sconset. 

On  October  5th  the  Coffin  School  was  reopened  for 
teaching  manual  training. 

The  following  inscription  was  found  on  a  beam  in 
the  Unitarian  Church  tower,  on  September  26th,  during 
repairs:  "This  tower  was  rebuilt  by  Perez  Jenkins 
in  1830, — height  10  feet  5>^  inches  to  top  of  points." 

The  Nantucket  Athletic  Club  was  incorporated  in 
1890  for  the  purpose  of  offering  facilities  for  athletic 
games  and  recreation.  It  was  not,  however,  until  the 
autumn  of  1904  that  the  proposed  building  was  begun, 


The  Nineteenth  Century  199 

and  on  April  5,  1905,  it  was  finished,  equipped,  and 
opened  to  members  and  their  friends. 

The  club-house,  near  the  steamboat  landing,  con- 
tains two  bowling  alleys,  a  billiard  room,  reception 
room,  card  rooms,  and  a  large  room  for  meetings, 
conversazioni,  etc.  In  connection  with  the  club-house 
are  fine  tennis  courts,  where  tournaments  are  frequently 
held.  Balls,  receptions,  concerts,  readings,  lectures, 
etc.,  are  occasionally  given  in  the  spacious  amusement 
hall.  The  club  consists  entirely  of  men  but  they  accord 
many  privileges  to  the  fair  sex,  and  the  institution  is  a 
source  of  many  refined  pleasures  not  only  to  the  town, 
but,  during  summer,  to  throngs  of  visitors.^ 

During  1903  also,  the  Electric  and  Power  Co.  suc- 
ceeded by  purchase  to  the  Citizens  Gas  Co.  and  the 
amalgamation  of  these  two  companies  under  the  name 
of  the  Citizens  Gas,  Electric,  and  Power  Co.  insured  a 
vastly  improved  joint  service  which  is  now  keenly  ap- 
preciated, and  the  equipment  is  all  that  could  be 
desired. 

1904.  The  Civic  League  was  formed  on  January 
14th,  in  order  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  town  gener- 
ally, especially  to  secure  its  cleanliness  and  good  order, 
and  in  every  respect  the  League  has  well  fulfilled  the 
purposes  for  which  it  was  established. 

The  Bathing  Beach  was  leased  for  fifteen  years,  at 
$350  per  annum,  and  the  Bathing  PaviHon  was  erected 
during  May  of  this  year. 

During  June,  a  water  plant  was  installed  at  Sconset. 

The  Marconi  Co.  established  a  station  at  Siasconset, 
in  this  year. 

'  In  1912,  the  name  of  the  club  was  changed  to  the  "  Nantucket  Club," 
and  a  fine  pier  was  built  out  from  the  veranda  at  the  back,  which  gives 
ample  facilities  for  boating  and  aquatic  sports. 


200  Nantucket 

The  corner-stone  of  a  new  fireproof  building  for  the 
security  of  the  historical  collection  was  laid  at  the 
Nantucket  Historical  Association  on  September  17, 
1905,  A  station  of  the  New  York  Yacht  Club  was 
established  at  Nantucket  in  this  year.  This  was  due 
entirely  to  the  enterprise  and  generosity  of  Paul  The- 
baud,  the  well-known  yachtsman  of  New  York,  who 
supplied  the  building,  fully  equipped,  with  landing- 
stage,  tenders,  and  every  accessory  at  his  own  expense. 
There  is  also  an  attendant  in  charge  of  it.  Since  its 
establishment  the  visiting  yachts  in  the  harbor  have 
increased  threefold,  doubtless  encouraged  also  by  the 
deepening  of  the  channel. 

During  the  spring,  an  appropriation  of  $80,000  was 
secured  for  the  purpose  of  deepening  the  harbor  and 
channel,  of  which  $70,000  was  available  for  Nantucket. 
At  the  same  time  economy  and  reform  in  town  matters 
were  strongly  advocated  owing  to  unhealthy  financial 
conditions. 

The  museum  at  the  Athenseum  was  transferred  to 
the  Nantucket  Historical  Association  during  April. 

Five  thousand  dollars  was  granted  by  the  Legislature 
for  improvement  of  the  harbor  during  the  same  month. 

A  reception  was  given  by  the  Historical  Association, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  their  rooms,  on  June 
15th. 

The  overseers  of  the  poor  named  the  Asylum  for  the 
Poor  "Our  Island  Home." 

The  Civic  League  held  their  annual  meeting  and 
banquet  at  the  Point  Breeze  Hotel  on  July  20th,  eighty 
members  being  present. 

"Billy  Clark,"  the  Town  Crier,  had  a  successful 
"Song  Recital"  as  a  testimonial,  at  the  Athletic  Club 
on  September  23d,  added  to  a  subscription  of  $388.50. 


The  Nineteenth  Century  201 

The  Nantucket  Hotel  property  was  sold  at  public 
auction  on  September  30th. 

Harbor  dredging  temporarily  ceased  at  end  of  De- 
cember. 

1906.  Alvin  Hull,  one  of  the  town  criers,  died  sud- 
denly during  this  year. '  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
War,  a  whaler,  and  had  officiated  as  town  crier  for 
over  twenty  years.     He  was  generally  esteemed. 

1907.  The  new  Bathing  Pavilion  was  opened  at 
Sconset  in  August. 

At  the  town-meeting  in  February,  $1000  was  appro- 
priated to  further  advertise  the  island  as  a  health 
resort,  and  spirited  efforts  were  made  in  this  direction. 

During  May,  the  town  adopted  a  modern  telegraph 
fire-alarm  system;  and  the  dredging  of  the  harbor  was 
recommenced  in  July. 

The  question  as  to  admitting  automobiles  on  the 
island  was  rediscussed,  and  settled  negatively  during 
October. 

During  the  season  the  hotels  and  boarding-houses 
were  filled  to  overflowing. 

The  Marconi  wireless  station  at  Sconset  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  on  November  15th. 

A  motor  car  arrived  for  Nantucket  Railroad,  and 
ran  to  Sconset  in  less  than  thirty  minutes. 

1908.  On  January  ist,  new  automobile  railroad 
mail  service  was  installed  between  Nantucket  and 
Sconset,  vice  the  old  mail  coach. 

On  January  23d,  the  worst  storm  for  twenty  years 
burst  over  the  island;  greatest  maximum  velocity 
eighty-three  miles.  Damages  estimated  at  $5000. 
It  is  said  that  one  puff  registered  a  velocity  of  over 
one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  per  hour! 

'  August  10,  1906,  aged  sixty  years  five  months. 


202  Nantucket 

The  new  lightship,  "85,  "  was  placed  in  position  dur- 
ing the  first  week  in  February. 

The  town-meeting  on  February  ist  appropriated 
$60,000.  An  appropriation  for  defraying  the  expenses 
of  a  band  was  voted  in  opposition  to  one  proposed  for 
advertising.  One  thousand  dollars  was  voted  for  the 
establishment  of  a  town  gymnasium.  It  was  resolved 
to  erect  a  new  stand  pipe  at  Wannacomet  waterworks, 
eighty  feet  high,  with  a  capacity  of  180,000  gallons 
more  than  the  present  tank,  and  to  contain  400,000 
gallons. 

The  expense  of  erecting  the  eastern  jetty  was  com- 
puted at  $375,000.  The  estimated  cost  of  the  western 
jetty,  the  construction  of  which  was  begun  in  1881, 
was  $112,000. 

The  Cliff  beacons  ("Bug-lights")  were  finally  dis- 
continued. 

In  April  a  bill  was  passed  at  the  State-House  per- 
mitting the  Selectmen  practically  to  exclude  auto- 
mobiles from  the  island,  from  June  15th  to  September 
15th  in  each  year. 

The  Maria  Mitchell  Observatory  was  dedicated  on 
July  15th. 

New  range  lights  (skeleton  towers)  were  placed  at 
Brant  Point  on  July  14th. 

The  season  of  1908  was  the  most  successful  in 
Sconset's  history. 

A  new  motor  car  on  the  Nantucket  Railroad  had 
its  trial  trip,  between  Nantucket  and  Sconset,  on  July 
30th,  and  the  result  was  very  satisfactory. 

On  November  9th,  the  opening  at  head  of  harbor  was 
entirely  closed,  and  much  discussion  was  entailed  as  to 
the  possible  results. 

1909.     The    appropriation    for    town    expenses   has 


The  Nineteenth  Century  203 

almost  doubled  during  the  past  sixteen  years,  between 
1893  and  1909,  In  1893  it  amounted  to  $34,900,  and 
in  1909  to  $68,455.38. 

"Billy  Clark"  died  on  Tuesday,  August  17,  1909, 
(having  been  born  at  Nantucket,  on  November  17, 
1846),  after  many  years'  service  as  an  esteemed  and 
respected  town  crier. 

1 910.  Nantucket  got  another  appropriation  of 
$50,000  for  the  jetties. 

The  annual  appropriations  at  town-meeting,  held 
February  14th,  totalled  $71,681.08. 

During  March  it  was  proposed  to  raise  by  pop- 
ular subscription,  another  $1000,  to  advertise  Nan- 
tucket. 

The  Sewer  Commissioners'  report,  issued  April  22d, 
showed  a  total  cost  of  $7,524.00.  This  sum  was 
subsequently  appropriated. 

Many  important  improvements  were  suggested  for 
Sconset  in  April,  principally  with  a  view  to  improved 
sanitation. 

During  the  past  decade  many  experiments  have 
been  made  regarding  transportation  to  Siasconset,  but 
early  in  June  a  new  system  was  inaugurated  with  every- 
thing new.  The  new  rolling  stock  arrived  at  the  end 
of  May,  and  was  placed  in  operation  on  June  7th,  with 
gratifying  success. 

This  year's  season  was  not  only  the  best  ever  experi- 
enced in  Nantucket,  but  also  the  best  ever  known  in 
Sconset;  10.000  visitors  were  accommodated  on  the 
island. 

The  annual  valuation  of  Nantucket  shows  an  increase 
of  more  than  $160,000  over  that  of  last  year, 

A  further  appropriation  for  Nantucket  harbor  was 
granted  during  December,  1910. 


204  Nantucket 

191 1.  The  new  steamboat  Sankaty  arrived  on 
May  2d. 

During  the  week  ending  August  5th,  the  Sconset 
Carnival  was  held,  including  the  crowning  of  the  king 
and  queen,  a  street  parade,  games,  etc. 

In  the  spring  and  summer  dredging  was  continued, 
previous  efforts  having  been  unsatisfactory,  if  not 
inutile  to  a  great  degree,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
work  had  been  carried  on  in  deep  water !  The  present 
contract  provides  for  the  deepening  of  the  water  over 
the  bar  to  the  depth  of  seventeen  feet. 

Another  banner  season,  hotels,  summer  cottages, 
and  boarding-houses  being  so  crowded  that  many 
visitors  had  to  return  by  the  boats — the  much  aug- 
mented accommodation  of  the  island  being  overtaxed. 

1 91 2.  This  year,  while  meager  in  matters  of  historical 
interest,  was  devoid  of  sensations,  but  replete  with 
conventional  happenings.  The  Legislature  granted 
an  appropriation  of  $10,000  for  deepening  the  anchorage 
in  Nantucket  harbor. 


CHAPTER  XI 

SOME  EARLY  DWELLINGS  IN  NANTUCKET 

However  simple  and  unpretentious  the  earliest 
architecture  on  the  island  of  Nantucket  may  have  been, 
yet,  like  the  law  of  evolution,  it  manifests  progress 
from  a  lower  to  a  higher  type  during  the  lapse  of  historic 
time.  While  the  primeval  habitations  of  the  English 
settlers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hummock  Pond  and 
Wannacomet  were  of  the  humblest  possible  character, 
we  recognize  a  still  higher  type  in,  for  example,  the 
"Oldest  House,"  built  in  1686. 

When  the  so-called  town  was  removed  from  Wanna- 
comet to  Wesko — the  modern  Nantucket — about  1 720, 
a  still  higher  type  prevailed  in  the  adoption  of  two-stor}^ 
houses,  with  the  northern  roof  sloping  down  to  the 
first  story,  which  now  constitutes  perhaps  most  of  the 
houses  in  the  town.  At  a  still  later  period  many  of 
the  houses  assumed  the  character  of  having  two  stories 
in  front  and  rear,  and  then,  in  a  few  instances,  of  gam- 
br  el -roofed  houses,  but  never  to  any  great  extent. 
Many  superior  houses  of  a  colonial  type  were  subse- 
quently built;  for  example,  the  imposing  dwellings  in 
upper  Main  Street  and  elsewhere. 

Probably  not  a  vestige  remains  of  the  original  houses 
built  by  the  primitive  settlers  from  the  settlement  in 

205 


2o6  Nantucket 

1 66 1  to  1680.  The  earliest  house  of  which  there  is 
any  record  was  that  inhabited  by  Nathaniel  Starbuck 
soon  after  his  arrival  in  1660,  and  it  was  built  at  the 
western  end  of  the  island.  It  must  have  been  only  a 
temporar}^  abode,  as  in  1670  it  was  no  longer  in  exist- 
ence. While  the  location  of  the  original  house-lots 
may  be  indicated  with  some  precision,  there  is  no  means 
of  ascertaining  the  exact  or  even  probable  situation  of 
the  houses  upon  them. 

The  "Cambridge  Spring,"  near  Hummock  Pond,  is 
believed  to  have  indicated  the  position  of  the  so-called 
"Parliament  House" — the  residence  of  Nathaniel  and 
Mary  Starbuck.  James  Coffin's  house  is  said  to  have 
stood  to  the  north  of  this;  and  tradition  asserts  that 
Tristram  Coffin's  dwelling  occupied  a  spot  at  the  south- 
west end  of  Capaum  Pond,  which  has  been  marked  with 
a  monolith  by  his  successors.  It  is  also  more  or  less 
authoritatively  stated  that  John  Coleman,  senior  and 
junior,  and  Jeremiah  Coleman  lived  on  the  plains,  as  also 
did  the  early  Barnards,  and  Allen  and  Richard  Swain. 

John  Mott  had  land  in  the  Long  Woods;  William 
Bunker  lived  near  Squam  Pond;  the  earliest  Cart- 
wrights,  at  Pocomo.  Peter  Folger  lived  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Allen  Smith  house,  near  the  west  end  of 
Jethro  Folger's  lane  on  upper  Main  Street.  Eleazer 
Folger,  his  eldest  son,  lived  on  the  hill  back  of  the 
Abner  Turner  house  on  West  Chester  Street,  and  John, 
the  youngest  son,  lived  at  Polpis.  The  Gardners, 
Richard  and  John,  lived  at  the  northwestern  part  of 
Nantucket,  in  the  neighborhood  where  Hamblin's 
farm  now  stands. 

Thomas  Macy,  after  residing  near  "Maticat," 
(Madeket)  for  a  year  or  so,  lived  on  the  Pond  field 
at  Wannacomet,  where  he  died  in  1682. 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  207 

Edward  Starbuck  resided  near  the  north  head  of 
Hummock  Pond,  where  he  died  in  1690,  aged  eighty-six 
years. 

The  first  town-house  is  said  to  have  stood  near  the 
Thomas  Backus  house;  the  second,  near  the  Holmes 
country.     Here  also  stood  the  jail. 

As  time  progressed,  the  residences  became  centralized 
in  the  vicinity  of  Wannacomet;  but,  about  1720,  when 
Capaum  had  been  cut  off  from  the  sea,  and  had  become 
a  mere  pond,  the  inhabitants  resolved  to  remove  the 
settlement  to  Wesko — now  the  town  of  Nantucket — 
principally  because  of  the  facilities  rendered  by  spacious 
harbor  accommodation  at  the  latter  place.  A  few 
houses  had  been  erected  in  the  neighborhood  some  years 
previously  to  the  exodus,  but  it  was  not  until  about 
1720  that  building  operations  on  an  extensive  scale 
were  carried  on  at  Wesko;  and  in  numerous  instances 
houses  were  removed  from  the  old  center  to  the  new. 
With  very  few  exceptions,  therefore,  Nantucket,  as  it 
now  stands,  consists  mainly  of  houses  which  were 
built  diiring  the  first  quarter  of  the  i8th  century. 

A  few  notes  on  the  earlier  houses  which  still  in  part 
remain  may  not  be  without  interest,  if  they  serve  no 
more  useful  purpose. 

THE    "oldest   house"    IN    NANTUCKET — 1686-I912 

On  the  quaintly  delightful  island  of  Nantucket — 
so  full  of  natural  charms,  so  brimful  with  historical 
associations — there  are  few  objects  of  keener  interest 
than  the  ancient  house,  built  in  1686,  as  a  wedding  gift 
to  a  yoimg  pair,  the  bridegroom  the  grandson  of  one 
of  the  earliest  white  settlers,  and  the  bride — "sweet 
sixteen" — a  daughter  of  Captain  John  Gardner,  also 


2o8  Nantucket 

an  early  settler,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1706,  Chief  Justice  of  the  island. 

What  changes  have  taken  place  since,  like  a  lonely- 
sentinel,  this  primitive  dwelling  first  raised  its  front 
on  the  north  shore,  at  the  top  of  Sunset  Hill !  Two 
hundred  and  twenty -four  years!  Only  one  hundred 
and  ninety-four  years  after  the  discovery  of  the  New 
World,  only  eighty-four  years  after  the  discovery  of 
the  island  by  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  only  sixty-six 
years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims!  There  it  has 
stood  during  the  decay  of  empires,  the  thwarted  am- 
bitions of  kings  and  emperors,  and  for  nearly  a  century 
before  the  American  Revolution  had  consecrated  the 
United  States  "as  the  home  of  the  brave  and  the  land 
of  the  free" ;  and  there  it  still  stands,  as  proudly  as  ever, 
where  it  has  marked  the  rise,  the  fall,  and  the  re-ascen- 
sion of  "the  little  purple  island,"  smiling  amid  its 
venerable  associations,  and  the  pride  of  all  Nantucketers. 

We  claim  no  stately  architectural  beauties  for  this 
antiquated  dwelling-house,  for  it  was  erected  long 
before  colonial  architecture  had  ever  reached  the  "old 
country"  from  which  it  was  subsequently  imported. 
It  was,  indeed,  a  mere  cottage,  as  it  stands  to-day 
after  two  hundred  and  tw^enty-four  years,  but  the  happy 
home  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  civilization  on  this  vast 
continent. 

When  the  marriage  was  determined,  it  was  arranged 
that  Captain  John  Gardner  should  supply  the  land  for 
the  building,  and,  inasmuch  as  the  prospective  bride- 
groom's father  "owned  large  acreage  of  forest  at  Ex- 
eter, N.  H.,"  it  was  decided  that  he  should  supply  the 
necessary  lumber  for  the  framework  of  the  house,  and, 
accordingly,  this  was  conveyed  in  one  of  his  own  vessels. 

It  has  been  stated  that,  when  the  house  was  built. 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  209 

there  were  not  more  than  thirty  houses  on  the  island. 
When  all  was  prepared,  Jethro  Coffin  and  Mary  Gardner 
were  duly  married  in  their  own  house. 

"The  site  selected  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  from  the  brow  of  the  hill,  as  it  stands  at  the  present 
day.  .  .  .  The  main  building  occupying  a  space  of 
about  eighteen  feet  by  thirty-five."^ 

The  house  consists  of  two  stories  and  an  attic,  and 
the  southern  aspect  of  the  sloping  roof  was  much  shorter 
than  that  in  the  rear.  When  the  house  was  built,  the 
northern  roof  came  down  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
ground,  running  over  a  lean-to,  which  extended  along 
the  rear  of  the  house  from  one  end  to  the  other.  It  is 
not  generally  known,  however,  that  at  one  time  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  roof  was  destro^^ed  by  fire,  and 
when  the  damage  was  repaired  the  angle  was  not 
restored,  so  that  pictures  of  the  house  only  represent 
the  downward  extension  of  the  northern  roof  on  the 
northwest  end.  The  reason  assigned  for  the  greater 
extent  of  the  northern  roof  is  that,  in  most  old  Nan- 
tucket houses  the  short  roof  is  on  the  southern  exposure, 
and  the  long  roof  on  that  of  the  north,  because  the 
prevailing  winds  are  from  the  southwest,  and  in  running 
up  the  south  roof  and  running  down  the  longer  northern 
roof,  the  wind  would  not  tend  so  much  to  tear  ofif  the 
shingles.  Under  the  shingles  the  roof  itself  was  origi- 
nally covered  with  boards  about  eighteen  inches  broad, 
running  lengthwise  up  and  down. 

Midway  on  the  roof  bridge  is  one  large  brick  chimney- 
stack  through  which  all  the  flues  in  the  house  are  con- 
nected.    Of  this  chimney  more  anon. 

On  the  front,  or  southern,  aspect  of  the  house  are 
the  front  door  and  two  windows.     When  the  house  was 

'  Tnisttim  and  his  Grandchildren,  by  Mrs.  Worron,  1881. 


210  Nantucket 

built,  there  was  an  extensive  wooden  porch  erected  in 
front  of  this  door,  and  upon  this  opened,  on  its  eastern 
side,  a  massive  door  of  oak,  which  constituted  the  real 
hall  door  of  the  house.  The  outer  door  was  opened  by 
passing  a  finger  through  a  small  hole  in  the  door  itself 
and  lifting  a  solid  bar  of  oak,  which  effectually  secured 
the  door  when  it  was  shut.  This  useful,  as  well  as 
ornamental  appendage,  is  no  longer  remembered, 
having  disappeared  in  the  flux  of  time.  It  is  stated 
by  Mrs.  Worron,  who  resided  in  the  house  at  an  early 
period,  that  the  space  disclosed  when  this  outer  door 
was  opened,  "was  large  enough  to  admit  a  yoke  of 
oxen." 

On  the  east  end  of  the  house  are  three  windows,  one 
for  each  story,  and  on  the  west  end  are  four,  one  to 
light  the  living-room  on  the  ground  floor,  a  small  narrow 
one  lighting  the  little  bedroom  north  of  the  living-room, 
one  for  the  second  story,  and  one  for  the  attic.  The 
window  supplying  the  living-room,  is  somewhat  remark- 
able, inasmuch  as  the  upper  sash  has  two  rows  with 
five  panes  in  each,  and  the  lower  sash  has  three  rows 
with  five  panes  in  each.  So  far  as  is  known,  there  is 
no  similar  window  on  the  island,  and  being  in  several 
ways  more  elaborate  than  any  of  the  other  windows, 
it  may  be  assumed  that  it  was  of  later  origin  than  the 
house  itself. 

The  house  is  very  substantially  built  of  large  oak 
beams  averaging  from  twelve  to  fourteen  inches  in 
diameter,  about  a  foot  square ;  and  none  of  these,  even 
now,  shows  symptoms  of  decay.  The  main  beams  are 
strengthened  on  the  second  floor  by  means  of  "ship's 
knees"  of  oak,  bolted  to  the  floor  beams  and  uprights. 
Cedar  laths  have  been  nailed  to  the  flooring  above,  by 
hand-made  nails,  and  the  plaster,  freely  used  in  covering 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  211 

them,  was  mainly  composed  of  ground  shells.  There 
are  evidences  of  more  modern  lathing  and  plastering 
having  been  superimposed  at  a  subsequent  date. 

Entering  the  front  door  we  find  ourselves  in  a  small 
vestibule,  out  of  which  open  two  large  rooms,  occupy- 
ing the  whole  of  the  ground-floor,  that  on  the  east  being 
known  as  the  "keeping-room,"  and  that  on  the  west 
the  living-room.  Between,  in  front  of  the  large  chim- 
ney, is  a  winding  stairway  leading  to  the  second  story. 
The  keeping-room  is  a  large  room,  but  the  ceiling  is 
low,  not  more  than  six  and  one-half  feet  high. 

The  superior  workmanship  of  the  house  is  apparent 
the  moment  one  enters:  heavy  oak  beams  edge  the 
ceiling,  and  one  immense  beam,  flanked  on  either  side 
by  six  or  eight  supports  of  sturdy  oak  planking,  crosses 
the  middle  of  the  ceiling  itself. 

In  this  keeping-room,  as  well  as  in  the  western  or 
living-room,  is  a  huge  fireplace,  which,  in  its  original 
condition,  monopolized  more  than  half  the  length  of 
the  room,  and  its  depth  could  easily  accommodate  a 
whole  family.  The  fireplace  in  this  room  has,  however, 
been  more  recently  made  smaller,  part  of  it  having  been 
converted  into  a  good-sized  closet,  and  a  narrower  fire- 
grate installed. 

Here,  also,  on  the  spacious  mantelpiece,  is  a  specimen 
of  colonial  carving  which  is  as  daint}''  and  elegant  as 
is  imaginable.  Its  delicacy  and  flawlessness,  after  all 
the  years  that  have  flown  since  its  construction,  are 
really  most  remarkable.  This  mantel  was  placed  in 
the  living-room  at  the  time  of  the  cutting  down  of  the 
fireplace. 

At  the  north  end  of  the  room,  is  a  small,  narrow 
"back-entry"  or  closet,  with  a  narrow  back  door, 
leading   into   the   back   yard,    and   at   the  sill  of  the 


212  Nantucket 

door  there  is  a  large,  flat  doorstep  of  stone,  well  worn 
with  time. 

The  walls  of  the  keeping-room  are  covered  with  the 
stern  boards  of  ships  (bearing  their  respective  names), 
which  have  been  wrecked  in  the  neighborhood  during 
the  prosperous  whaling  industry,  and  are  fraught  with 
sad  memories  of  other  days.  An  imitation  carpet, 
painted  on  the  floor  of  this  room,  can  even  yet  be 
discerned. 

As  we  cross  the  small  vestibule  between  the  two 
front  rooms,  there  is  noticed  a  small  window  about 
twelve  or  fourteen  inches  long  and  four  inches  high,  at 
the  east  side  of  the  front  door.  This  is  known  as  the 
"Indian  Peep-hole."  It  has  not  yet  been  fully  deter- 
mined why  it  was  so  placed,  although  from  its  situation 
it  would  have  admirably  served  the  purpose  mentioned ; 
for,  as  has  been  stated,  "  It  is  so  high  that  while  persons 
outside  could  not  see  in,  those  inside  could  see  out." 

In  the  living-room  on  the  west  side  of  the  house  is 
also  a  magnificent  fireplace  in  all  its  original  amplitude, 
measuring  seven  feet  four  inches  in  length  and  about 
five  feet  in  depth.  The  back  of  the  cavity  is  semi- 
circular instead  of  square,  as  is  usual,  and  it  is  perhaps 
as  perfect  a  specimen  of  late  seventeenth  century  work 
as  can  be  seen. 

These  two  lower  rooms  contain  numerous  relics — 
furniture,  china,  bric-a-brac  and  other  objects  of  interest 
which  space,  unfortunately,  will  not  permit  to  be 
particularized.  At  the  back  of  this  room  are  some 
domestic  offices  and  a  small  bedroom. 

Up  the  gradually  narrowing  staircase  we  ascend  to 
the  second  story,  where  there  are  three  rooms;  but  the 
western  or  "Bridal  Chamber"  is  the  only  one  that 
claims  our  interest.     It  is  a  large  room,  nearly  square, 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  213 

with  one  western  window,  and  an  admirable  open  fire- 
place remaining  exactly  as  it  was  originally  constructed. 
This  room  contains  the  only  original  mantel  in  the 
house,  and  its  peculiar  design  is  suggestive  of  the  keel 
of  a  ship.  The  room  measures  eighteen  feet  long,  the 
floor  being  covered  with  eleven  boards,  some  nineteen 
or  twenty  inches  broad. 

In  this  room,  is  a  closet  still  known  as  "The  Indian 
Closet."  This  room  also  contains  all  that  remains  of 
the  headstone  erected  over  the  grave  of  Captain  John 
Gardner,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  years  ago.  It 
was  the  only  one  discernible  in  the  old  burying  ground 
near  Maxcy's  Pond,  where  it  reposed  from  1706  to 
1881 ;  and,  in  order  to  save  it  from  the  ravages  of  relic 
hunters,  it  was,  for  preservation,  removed  to  "The 
Oldest  House,"  in  1883.  The  inscription  is  still  de- 
cipherable. 

Another  flight  of  stairs  leads  to  the  attic,  which  has 
never  been  finished,  but  is  almost  made  into  two  rooms 
by  the  stairway  and  the  chimney.  From  the  scuttle 
in  the  roof,  which  is  reached  by  a  few  rough  steps,  a 
splendid  view  of  the  island  is  afforded,  including  the 
beautiful  moorlands,  the  fine  harbor,  and  the  interesting 
buildings. 

A  few  words  must  here  be  devoted  to  the  large  chim- 
ney-stack projecting  from  the  roof,  which  is  remarkable, 
not  only  for  its  size,  but  for  its  uniqueness.  There  has 
been  much  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  significance 
of  its  ornamentation.  The  chimney  is  built  of  bricks 
said  to  have  been  brought  from  England  in  Nantucket 
vessels  as  ballast,  and  it  has  an  ornamental  cornice  of 
several  rows  of  bricks  around  the  top  On  its  south 
aspect  is  a  figure,  wrought  in  brickwork,  resembling 
an    inverted  U,  which  measures  two  feet  by  three  and 


214  Nantucket 

one-half  feet,  within  the  bend  of  which  is  the  monogram 
J.  C,  representing  Jethro  Coffin.  So  strongly  has  the 
idea  dominated  the  minds  of  the  people  generally  that 
this  U-shaped  figure  was  designated  a  horseshoe  to 
propitiate  good  luck  and  to  exorcise  demons,  that  the 
house  itself  is  better  known  by  the  title  of  "The  Horse 
Shoe  House"  than  by  any  other,  and  especially  so 
because,  at  the  time  the  house  was  built,  and  for  years 
previously,  "the  dark  shadow  of  witchcraft  hung  like 
a  pall  over  the  primitive  homes  and  hamlets  of  New 
England";  although  the  terrible  Salem  witchcraft  trials 
did  not  take  place  until  some  six  years  later.  It  is 
possible,  however,  that  the  figure  was  intended  only  as 
an  ornament;  but  who  can  settle  the  question? 

Such  in  outline  is  the  house  erected  two  hundred  and 
twenty-four  years  ago  as  a  wedding  gift  to  Jethro  and 
Mary  Coffin,  where  "Little  Peter,"  their  child  (named 
after  his  grandfather),  was  born,  and  where  the  "Bridal 
Chamber"  remains  almost  exactly  as  they  left  it  during 
the  dawn  of  civilization  on  the  island.  When  it  was 
built  (and  it  has  been  stated  that  Jethro  himself  was 
the  principal  artificer  in  its  erection),  it  was  considered 
one  of  the  best  houses  in  the  neighborhood;  and  that 
its  foundations  were  "well  and  truly  laid"  is  proved  by 
its  having  withstood  the  ravages  of  time  during  more 
than  two  centuries,  and  in  its  still  surviving,  almost 
as  hale  as  ever,  amid  the  vicissitudes  of  its  venerable 
antiquity. 

The  house  was  sold  by  the  Coffin  family  to  Nathaniel 
Paddock  in  1707,  the  year  after  Captain  John  Gardner's 
death.  For  many  years  afterwards,  it  was  abandoned 
as  a  dwelling-house  and  utilized  for  the  storage  of  hay. 

In  1 88 1,  at  the  time  of  a  reunion  of  the  Coffin  family, 
commemorating  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  215 

original  Tristram  Coffin's  death,  when  the  house  was  be- 
coming dilapidated,  it  was  rebought  for  preservation  by 
Tristram  Coffin,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  his  brother, 
who  put  on  a  new  roof,  repaired  the  top  of  the  chimney, 
strengthened  some  of  the  supports,  and  partially  re- 
shingled  the  exterior.  Thus  it  remained  until-  1886, 
the  anniversary  of  its  building,  when  it  was  resolved 
to  restore  "The  Oldest  House"  carefully  and  judici- 
ously. This  was  thoroughly  done,  though  the  original 
conditions  were  preserved  with  as  little  change  as 
possible,  and  without  destroying  any  of  the  ancient 
characteristics. 

It  was  during  these  repairs  that  the  date  of  the  erec- 
tion of  the  house  was  discovered  in  the  attic,  "  1686," 
in  figures  eight  inches  long,  being  painted  on  the  side 
of  the  chimney.  These  were  unfortunately,  destroyed 
in  putting  in  an  iron  support  to  strengthen  the  chimney. 
.  After  the  house  had  been  put  into  such  repair  as 
enabled  the  workman  to  say  "it  was  good  for  at  least 
another  hundred  years,"  it  was  kept  securely  closed 
for  eleven  years.  In  1897,  however,  the  summer  visi- 
tors to  the  island  clamored  so  vigorously  that  in  June 
a  curator  was  appointed,  and  the  house  has  remained 
open  for  inspection  ever  since,  much  to  the  gratification 
of  the  general  public. 

An  original  portrait,  in  oil,  of  Mary  Coffin,  for  which 
she  is  said  to  have  sat  three  times  in  Boston,  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  Mrs.  Eunice  Coffin  Gardner  Brooks, 
of  Nantucket, — a  lineal  descendant  of  Mary  Coffin, — 
but  though  the  portrait  has  been  attributed  erroneously 
to  Copley,  the  artist  remains  unknown;  the  picture 
contains  some  of  Copley's  characteristics,  which  would 
suggest  the  probability  of  its  having  been  painted  by 
some  one  of  the  great  artist's  teachers. 


2i6  Nantucket 

At  the  east  end  of  the  house  was  the  well  which  sup- 
plied it  with  water.  The  old-fashioned  "sweep"  is 
still  in  its  position,  and  the  curbing  having  been  restored 
and  the  mason-work  put  in  sanitary  repair,  the  water 
can  be  drawn  to-day  as  pure  and  sparkling  as  when  the 
sweet  young  face  of  the  bride  of  sixteen  was  reflected 
from  its  depths  in  1686. 

Up  to  1902,  the  oldest  house  on  the  island  was  un- 
questionably that  originally  built  and  occupied  by  John 
Swain,  one  of  the  primitive  settlers,  who,  after  living 
for  a  number  of  years  near  the  south  head  of  Hummock 
Pond,  bought  land  at  Polpis  in  1680,  and  afterwards 
built  the  house  now  under  consideration.  Unfortu- 
nately the  house  was  destroyed  by  a  thunderstorm  in 
1902,  so  that  an  opportunity  of  examining  it  has  not 
been  afforded,  but  from  a  photograph  the  house  appears 
to  have  been  a  simple  lean-to  of  one  story,  with  a  brick 
chimney,  as  usual,  at  the  west  end.  On  the  east  end 
a  smaller  lean-to  was  erected  subsequently,  and,  still 
later,  another  was  built  on  the  west  end. 

The  original  house  was  erected  before  the  last  decade 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  soon  after  the  purchase  of 
the  land,  but  it  is  impossible  to  say  definitely,  under 
the  circumstances,  as  an  examination  of  the  interior 
is  no  longer  practicable.  The  house  was  evidently  built 
on  the  ground  and  without  a  foundation.  Many  in- 
accuracies have  appeared  with  regard  to  the  year  in 
which  this  house  was  built. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  barn  at  Hamblin's  Farm, 
near  the  cliff,  was  originally  part  of  an  early  house 
erected  in  1696,  as  appears  from  a  date  cut  into  a 
granite  doorstone,  together  with  two  initial  letters,  the 
first  of  which  is  indistinctly  G,  and  the  other  distinctly 
E.     Inquiry  has  elicited  the  probability  that  the  letters 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  217 

stand  for  George  and  Eunice — George  Gardner,  the 
son  of  Captain  John  Gardner,  having  married  Eunice 
Starbuck — and  that  the  land  on  which  the  house  is 
built  was  the  property  of  Captain  John  Gardner.  It  is 
also  alleged  that  Captain  Gardner  built  the  house  in 
1696  for  his  son  and  daughter-in-law.  The  allegation 
is  further  sustained  by  the  fact  that  Captain  Gardner's 
own  residence — the  site  of  which  is  still  indicated — • 
was  only  about  four  hundred  feet  from  the  house  in 
question. 

George  Gardner  died  in  1750  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Grafton,  w^ho  died  in  1789,  he  in  turn  having 
been  succeeded  by  his  son,  Silas  Gardner. 

In  1800,  Thomas  Brock  purchased  the  house  and 
some  thirteen  acres  of  land  from  Silas  Gardner,  and 
eventually  the  house  became  the  property  of  Thomas 
C.  Hamblin,  through  the  descendants  of  Thomas  Brock. 
The  house  and  farm  still  belong  to  the  Hamblin 
family. 

In  or  about  1842,  Hamblin  having  built  another 
dwelling  near-by,  the  original  house  was  used  as  a  barn, 
having  been  mutilated  by  the  removal  of  its  western 
half,  the  original  chimney,  and  a  lean-to  on  the  north 
side — thus  leaving  only  the  eastern  section  of  the  origi- 
nal house,  which  is  all  that  now  remains.  The  original 
house  was  evidently  a  double  lean-to. 

The  writer  was  unfortunate  during  a  recent  inspec- 
tion in  being  prevented  from  making  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  the  interior  by  the  fact  that  the  barn  was  full  of 
hay;  but  the  original  frame  uprights  are  still  in  posi- 
tion. The  walls  are  filled  with  clay,  and  clam-shell 
mortar  has  been  used.  The  upright  posts  are  strong 
and  thick,  and  bracketed.  The  original  two  rooms  have 
been  thrown  into  one  for  farming  purposes,  and  when 


2i8  Nantucket 

the  house  was  built  it  was  evidently  a  lean-to  house 
with  all  the  usual  characteristics,  including  a  chimney 
in  the  middle  of  the  roof,  and  the  door  in  the  middle 
of  the  southern  aspect.  Although  for  several  reasons 
it  might  be  relegated  to  a  somewhat  later  period,  there 
is  other  evidence  sufficiently  strong  to  justif}'-  the  claim 
of  its  having  been  built  before  1700. 

Another  interesting  old  house,  associated  with  the 
Starbucks  in  early  days,  is  that  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Mrs.  Benjamin  G.  Tobey,  at  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Gardner  Streets.  The  house,  as  it  now  stands,  con- 
sists of  two  incorporated  sections — the  west  end  from 
1757,  as  appears  from  a  date  on  the  wall  of  an  upstairs 
closet,  when  the  house  apparently  assumed  its  present 
form — the  eastern  section  of  much  earlier  date.  Tradi- 
tion asserts  that  the  eastern  section  was  brought  from 
Madeket,  which  is  not  very  improbable.  It  was 
unquestionably  removed  from  elsewhere  to  its  present 
position.  From  its  general  characteristics — its  seven 
feet  long  brick  fireplace  and  oven,  the  cedar  frames  to 
windows,  long  northern  roof  sloping  down  to  lean-to, 
in  addition  to  peculiarities  of  construction — this  section 
was  probably  built  during  the  first  quarter  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

The  house  was  formerly  occupied  by  Zaccheus  Star- 
buck,  who  was  born  on  February  2,  1733,  as  recorded 
on  the  handle  of  a  birth-spoon  owned  by  Mrs.  Tobey. 
He  moved  into  the  house  from  elsewhere,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  trace  it  farther  back. 

Tristram  Starbuck,  his  son,  was  born  about  1770. 
He  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Tobey,  who  was  born 
in  the  house.  In  1763,  it  was  occupied  by  Christopher 
Starbuck.  Tristram  Starbuck  had  eight  children,  viz. : 
Phoebe  and  Mary  (twins),  Christopher,  Charles,  Eliza- 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  219 

beth,  and  Lydia,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Tobey,  two  others 
having  died  early. 

The  house,  now  standing,  is  a  two-story  lean-to, 
which  might  indicate  a  later  age,  but  some  of  the  pe- 
culiarities of  the  east  end  render  it  possible  that  this 
section  was  built,  wherever  it  came  from,  soon  after 
1700. 

The  Caleb  Gardner  house,  behind  the  present  resi- 
dence of  John  C.  Gardner,  at  the  head  of  Main  Street, 
is  particularly  worthy  of  notice,  especially  as  it  is  in 
some  respects  unique.  It  is  now  used  as  a  carriage 
house,  and  each  side  is  flanked  by  a  lean-to  of  com- 
paratively modern  construction.  John  C.  Gardner  has 
a  careful  record  of  the  house  in  his  possession,  estab- 
lishing the  fact  that  it  was  erected  in  1699  by  Caleb 
Gardner,  son  of  Joseph  Gardner. 

The  house  itself  was  a  two-story  lean-to,  the  northern 
roof  sloping  down  to  the  lower  story  in  the  rear,  as  usual, 
the  front  door  being  in  the  eastern  aspect  of  the  south- 
ern front.  The  stairs  faced  the  door,  and  at  the  front 
of  the  door — the  original  framework  of  which  is  in  situ 
— is  a  well-worn  red-sandstone  doorstone.  The  chim- 
ney, which  has  been  removed,  was,  contrary  to  custom, 
on  the  east  end,  and  the  brick  fireplace,  which  was 
quadrilateral,  was  about  ten  feet  square.  The  latter 
has  also  been  removed. 

Each  story  was  occupied  by  one  large  room ;  the  walls 
were  filled  with  clay,  and  clam-shell  mortar  has  been 
used  throughout.  The  framing  of  the  house  is  un- 
usually strong  and  well-finished,  and  the  brackets  on 
lower  story  are,  curiously  enough,  nicely  rounded  with 
a  shoulder  upon  which  the  crossbeam,  which  runs 
north  and  south,  securely  rests.  The  west  end  was 
girt  with  cedar  shingles,  which,  for  the  most  part,  re- 


220  Nantucket 

main  in  their  original  positions,  but  have  been  rendered 
very  thin  by  long  exposure. 

Some  time  ago,  surrounding  the  house  for  a  distance 
of  about  three  feet  from  the  walls,  a  pavement  of  cobble- 
stones was  found  about  six  inches  below  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  and  was  continued  from  the  east  end  of  the 
house  by  a  causeway  leading  to  a  well,  which  was 
distinguished  for  the  purity  of  its  water,  and  was  much 
esteemed  in  the  neighborhood.  This  house  is  remark- 
able as  affording  conflicting  evidences  of  an  earlier  and 
a  later  date  than  has  been  assigned  to  it,  and  forms  a 
very  interesting  study. 

So  far  as  the  writer  has  been  enabled  to  ascertain, 
this  concludes  the  list  of  the  earliest  houses  built  in 
Nantucket  which  still  remain  to  some  extent;  but  it  is 
fair  to  assume  that  many  ancient  and  historic  houses 
were  destroyed  by  the  calamitous  fire  of  1846,  which, 
beginning  about  the  middle  of  Main  Street,  in  the  shop 
of  W.  H.  Geary,  on  the  13th  of  July,  destroyed  over 
three  hundred  buildings,  covering  about  thirty-six 
acres,  representing  about  one-third  of  the  town,  and 
involving  a  loss  of  over  $900,000, 

After  the  removal  of  the  town  from  Wannacomet, 
during  the  first  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century,  ex- 
tensive building  took  place  at  Nantucket,  but  instead 
of  the  one  or  one-and-a-half-story  houses  of  the  earlier 
period,  the  houses  erected  were  almost  uniformly  two 
stories  in  front,  sloping  down  to  one  in  the  rear,  and 
these  are  still  characteristic  of  perhaps  the  majority  of 
the  present  town  residences.  A  little  later,  two-story 
houses  in  front  and  rear  became  the  prevailing  type, 
and  many  of  these  may  be  seen  throughout  the  town. 

The  Major  Josiah  Coffin  house  on  the  Cliff  is  a  perfect 
and  most  beautiful  example  of  the  post-removal  houses, 


Some  Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket  221 

and  was  built  in  1724.  Many  others  might  be  cited, 
but  space  forbids. 

The  Paddock  house  on  Sunset  Hill  (now  occupied 
by  Calloway),  although  apparently  much  older,  must 
also  be  relegated  to  about  the  same  period,  or  a  few 
years  earlier. 

The  Reuben  Joy  homestead,  on  Monument  Square, 
until  about  five  years  ago,  bore  a  tablet  indicating  that 
the  house  was  built  "about  1700,"  but  it  was  probably 
erected  some  years  later. 

There  is  a  dilapidated  barn  on  Gull  Island  which 
looks  very  old,  but  was  built  probably  at  the  time  of 
the  Thomas  Gardner  house  in  the  same  locality — the 
latter  also  a  fine  example  of  the  "after  1720"  period. 

The  Zaccheus  Macy  house  is  still  standing  at  99 
Main  Street,  and  probably  represents  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  Another  house,  at  i  Vestal  Street, 
although  not  built  until  1790,  is  peculiarly  interesting 
as  having  been  the  birthplace  of  Maria  Mitchell,  the 
distinguished  astronomer,  born  in  August,  181 8. 

The  house  is  now  the  property  of  the  Maria  Mitchell 
Memorial  Association,  and  contains  the  astronomer's 
library,  telescopes,  etc.  The  association  has  built  a 
modern  observatory  in  the  grounds.  ^ 

Few  localities  possess  more  interesting  houses  within 
a  similar  superficies  than  "the  little  purple  island," 
and,  if  space  permitted,  many  more  examples  might  be 
added. 

'  Vide  Chapter  XII. 


CHAPTER  XII 

EMINENT  NANTUCKETERS 

The  galaxy  of  intelligence  representing  the  offspring 
of  the  little  island  of  Nantucket  has  not  been  siirpassed 
either  in  luminosity  or  numerically  by  any  other  place 
of  the  same  size  in  the  United  States;  and  in  a  survey 
of  human  progress  and  knowledge  there  is  not  a  depart- 
ment which  is  not  either  directly  or  indirectly  repre- 
sented by  some  of  those  claiming  Nantucket  as  their 
fostering  birthplace.  Science,  literature,  art,  theology, 
invention,  commerce,  rhetoric,  philanthropy,  diplo- 
macy, statesmanship,  navigation,  the  learned  profes- 
sions, the  military  and  naval  services,  pedagogy,  and, 
in  addition,  all  that  goes  to  crown  the  purity,  dignity, 
and  surpassing  worth  of  noble  womanhood,  have  sent 
their  votaries  from  this  freedom-hallowed  spot  to  work 
in  the  cause  of  human  progress,  to  achieve  national 
distinction  and  reputation,  and  to  reflect  unsullied 
honor  upon  the  place  of  their  nativity. 

A  brief  epitome  of  some  of  their  lives  and  attainments, 
amounting  to  little  more  than  a  mere  enumeration, 
must  here  suffice.     Place  aux  dames! 

Maria  Mitchell.  On  the  roll  of  Nantucket's  illus- 
trious women  none  stands  higher  than  Maria  Mitchell, 
the    accomplished    astronomer.     The    third    child    of 


Eminent  Nantucketers  223 

William  and  Lydia  (Coleman)  Mitchell,  she  was  born 
at  Nantucket  on  August  i,  181 8,  the  family  being  birth- 
right members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Her  youth 
was  spent  mainly  in  assisting  her  mother  in  domestic 
duties,  and  in  helping  her  father,  a  distinguished  mathe- 
matician, by  such  aid  as  she  could  give  him  in  his -scien- 
tific studies.  While  still  little  more  than  a  school-girl, 
she  became  the  librarian  of  the  Nantucket  Athenaeum, 
a  position  which  she  efficiently  filled  for  twenty  years. 
During  her  spare  time  she  devoted  herself  to  study, 
and  supplemented  her  income  by  making  calculations 
for  the  United  States  Nautical  Almanac,  the  joint  work  of 
her  father  and  herself  for  many  years.  On  October  i, 
1847,  she  was  awarded  a  gold  medal  for  the  discovery 
of  a  new  comet,  about  five  degrees  from  the  North  Star. 
Becoming  known  as  an  expert  in  astronomy,  the  savants 
of  the  world  gladly  hailed  her  as  one  of  themselves, 
while  the  positions  held  by  her  father  as  one  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Harvard,  and  a  member  of  Gover- 
nor Briggs's  Council,  constituted  her  a  persona  grata. 
among  the  highest  literary  and  scientific  circles  of  New 
England.  In  the  following  year,  she  was  elected  a 
Fellow  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 
an  honor  which  she  was  the  first  of  her  sex  to  obtain. 

In  1857,  she  visited  Europe  where  she  made  many 
friends  among  those  distinguished  in  science  and  art. 
In  1 861,  she  was  appointed  Professor  of  Astronomy  and 
Director  of  the  Observatory  at  Vassar  College,  received 
her  first  degree  of  LL.D.  from  Hanover  in  1853,  and 
her  last  from  Columbia  in  1887.  She  resigned  her 
appointment  after  twenty-three  years'  valuable  and 
much  appreciated  work,  and  the  Trustees  unanimously 
elected  her  Professor  Emerita.  She  was  also  offered  a 
home  for  life  in  the  observatory,  but  this  she  declined, 


224  Nantucket 

and  passed  away  peacefully  at  Lynn  (where  she  had 
removed  with  her  father,  after  her  mother's  death), 
on  June  28,  1889,  highly  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  had  known  her.  Her  old  home  at  i  Vestal  Street, 
still  constitutes  a  Mecca  for  visitors,  and  in  the  house 
is  now  installed  a  flourishing  institution  known  as  the 
Maria  Mitchell  Memorial  Association, — a  well  equipped 
establishment  for  scientific  inquiry  and  culture.  It 
contains  an  excellent  reference  library,  a  research 
fellowship,  and  General  Science  Committee,  in  addi- 
tion to  an  Observatory  Committee  and  numerous 
managerial  committees,  while  the  various  rooms  are 
devoted  to  branches  of  natural  science,  and  contain 
manifold  specimens  and  illustrations  connected  with 
each.  In  the  room  set  apart  for  astronomical  science 
is  the  3-inch  Dolland  telescope  with  which  Miss 
Mitchell  discovered,  in  1847,  the  comet  which  was 
named  for  her. 

A  memorial  observatory  was  built  by  subscription, 
after  her  death,  and  was  dedicated  on  July  15,  1908. 
This  is  situated  at  the  northern  side  of  her  birthplace. 
It  is  a  square  mosque-like  building  of  brick,  with  a 
revolving  dome  on  the  top  which,  by  means  of  appro- 
priate machinery,  can  be  opened  at  any  angle  for  astro- 
nomical purposes.  The  interior  contains  a  convenient 
gallery,  Miss  Mitchell's  scientific  library,  and  the 
telescope  which  was  presented  to  her,  in  i860,  b}'  Miss 
Peabody  on  behalf  of  the  women  of  America, 

The  genial  and  courteous  Curator  and  Librarian  of 
the  Memorial  Association,  INIrs.  Benjamin  Albertson, 
— a  cousin  of  the  distinguished  astronomer, — fulfils 
the  duties  of  her  appointment  much  to  the  gratification 
of  her  numerous  visitors. 

Miss  Mitchell  was  a  great  as  well  as  a  good  woman, 


Eminent  Nantucketers  225 

and  her  star  still  gleams  brightly  in  the  firmament  of 
science. 

Lucretia  Mott.  Lucretia  Mott,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Anna  Coffin,  was  born  on  Nantucket,  January  3, 
1793,  and  died  near  Philadelphia,  November  11,  1880, 
in  her  88th  year.  A  long  life  but  nobly  lived;  an  ideal 
type  of  pure  womanhood  distinguished  by  many  vir- 
tues, an  all-pervading  force  for  good,  characterized  by 
lofty  intelligence,  genuine  philanthropy,  and  sublime 
spiritual  fervor,  a  magnetic  personality  which  attracted 
and  never  repelled,  and  a  sweet  voice  which  expressed 
itself  only  in  golden  words. 

Such  was  Lucretia  Mott,  moral  reformer,  abolitionist, 
humanitarian,  as  noble  a  woman  as  any  country  ever 
produced,  and  the  first  woman  in  America  to  advocate 
f empale  suffrage.  As  a  direct  descendant  of  the  Folger 
and  Coffin  strain,  she  inherited  nothing  that  was  not 
beneficent.  Educated  in  Boston,  and  subsequently  in 
New  York  State,  she  ultimately  lived  with  her  parents 
in  Philadelphia,  where,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  she  mar- 
ried James  Mott,  in  whom  she  met  her  hallowed  affinity, 
and  brought  up  a  family  of  five  children  with  exemplary 
care  and  maternal  affection.  She  became  an  eminent 
minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  an  eloquent  moral 
reformer,  a  profound  and  active  sympathizer  with 
human  suffering  irrespective  of  class  or  creed,  and  she 
has  been  happily  described  as  "The  bright  morning 
star  of  intellectual  freedom  in  America."  Who 
can  estimate  the  beneficent  influences  of  such  a  life? 
Can  time  or  death  destroy  them?  A  thousand 
times  No!  For  they  are  linked  with  divineness  and 
immortality. 

Abiah  Folger  was  the  only  child  of  Peter  Folger  born 
at  Nantucket,  as  "his  two  sons  and  other  six  daughters 


226  Nantucket 

were  born  at  Martha's  Mneyard  previous  to  his  arrival "  * 
on  the  more  southern  island.  She  was  born  August  15, 
1667,  and  died  in  Boston  about  1752.  By  her  marriage 
to  Josiah  Franklin,  she  became  the  mother  of  the  phi- 
losopher, statesman,  diplomatist,  and  author,  Benjamin 
Franklin,  who  very  rightly  attributed  whatever  of 
character  he  developed  and  whatever  success  he  achieved 
to  his  mother's  influence.  What  could  even  the  Gracchi 
have  accomplished  without  the  qualities  transmitted 
by  their  gifted  mother,  Cornelia?  Very  few  details  of 
Mrs.  Franklin's  life  have  been  handed  down;  but  she 
is  known  to  have  had  exceptional  force  of  character,  and 
to  have  been  a  most  worthy  and  excellent  mother  and 
wife.  Defective  perhaps  in  the  graces  of  cultured 
intelligence,  she  was,  nevertheless,  apparently  of  that 
class  of  women,  frequently  typified  by  the  early  colonial 
mothers  of  New  England,  which  was  characterized  by 
distinctive  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  pervasive  whole- 
souled  excellence,  and  strong  common-sense,  fortified 
by  a  strong  sense  of  duty  and  a  never-failing  trust  in 
Providence.  Be  this  as  it  may,  her  motherhood  was 
honored  in  the  birth  of  her  distinguished  son,  and 
Nantucket  is  proud  to  acknowledge  her  as  one  of  her 
own  beloved  daughters.  The  vital  force  of  both 
mother  and  son  was  undoubtedly  transmitted  by  that 
sturdy  old  pioneer,  Peter  Folger;  for  breeding  tells, 
and  without  it  the  nations  of  the  earth  would  soon 
become  degenerate. 

Her  tombstone  in  the  old  Granary  Burying  Ground 
in  Boston  is  still  standing  and  the  inscription  thereon 
may  be  read  by  the  passer-by  on  Tremont  Street.  The 
Nantucket  Chapter  of  the  D.  A.  R.  is  named  "Abiah 
Folger  Chapter." 

'  W.  C.  Folger. 


Eminent  Nantucketers  22^ 

Mary  Starbuck  "  (The  Great  Woman)."  Although 
not  de  facto  born  in  Nantucket,  she  was  the  mother  of 
the  first  white  child  born  on  the  island,  and  as  one  of 
the  earliest  and  most  influential  of  the  settlers, — the 
daughter  of  Tristram  and  Dionis  Coffin — and  perhaps 
the  most  gifted  of  them  all,  she  was  long  regarded  as 
the  mother  of  the  settlement,  and  Nantucket  is  only 
too  proud  to  regard  her  as  an  adopted  daughter.  She 
was  married  at  an  early  age  to  Nathaniel  Starbuck,  son 
of  Edward  and  Katherine  Starbuck,  virtually  spent  her 
life  among  the  islanders,  and  died  upon  the  island.  The 
Starbuck  family  in  America  trace  its  descent  from  this 
well  assorted  pair.  Mary  Starbuck  was,  indeed,  a 
remarkably  gifted  woman,  surpassing  most  in  adminis- 
trative ability,  and  second  to  none  in  soundness  of 
judgment  and  general  intellectual  capacity.  In  every 
political,  social,  and  domestic  movement  she  took  a 
leading  part,  and  no  public  meeting  was  considered 
representative  without  her.  She  was,  moreover,  an 
easy,  eloquent  speaker  with  a  silvery  tongue,  and  her 
arguments  were  as  logical  as  convincing,  while  her 
diction  was  persuasive  and  elegant. 

At  a  later  period,  when  she  became  interested  in  the 
Society  of  Friends,  she  was  not  only  their  most  cele- 
brated preacher,  but  took  the  religious  interests  of  the 
entire  island  into  her  care  and  keeping.  The  islanders 
hung  upon  her  every  word,  and  were  proud  to  consult 
her  on  every  question  concerning  their  welfare  and 
happiness  whether  as  individuals  or  as  the  people  of  the 
island,  for  they  knew  her  worth,  trusted  her,  and  were 
devoted  to  her. 

Indeed,  the  island  sustained  an  irreparable  loss  when 
she  passed  away  on  February  2,  1719. 

"  Miriam  "  (Keziah)  Coffin  has  achieved  her  niche  in 


221 


Nantucket 


general  as  well  as  in  local  history.  She  was  an  extra- 
ordinary woman;  and  although  some  of  the  means  she 
adopted  to  make  money  were  rather  questionable, 
she  succeeded,  and  herein  her  power  was  exemplified. 
The  strength  of  her  character  was  manifested  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  and  she  became  not  only  the  proprietor 
of  a  splendid  town-house,  on  the  west  side  of  Center 
Street,  between  Pearl  and  Hussey  Streets,  which  she 
built  in  1770,  and  a  country  house  at  Quaise,  but  an  ex- 
tensive shipowner,  with  her  ships  on  every  sea.  She 
was  the  heroine  of  Colonel  Hart's  historical  novel  en- 
titled Miriam  Coffin;  or,  The  Whale  Fisherman.  She  was 
charged  and  tried  for  smuggling  at  Watertown,  and 
was  suspected  of  having  rendered  aid  to  the  British 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  late  Mr.  Sanford 
wrote  of  her:  "She  was  a  famous  smuggler  in  her  day, 
as  can  be  found  by  the  Colonial  Records  in  Boston." 
That  she  had  a  mind  capable  of  directing  such  risky 
enterprises  proves  her  to  have  been  a  woman  of  more 
than  average  courage  and  ability,  but  it  would  have 
been  more  satisfactory  if  her  talents  had  been  utilized 
in  some  more  worthy  direction.  As  in  most  such  cases, 
however,  she  was  "found  out,"  and  her  speculative 
tendencies  shrivelled  up.  She  ended  her  career  by 
falling  down  stairs,  which  caused  her  death  on  May 
29,  1798. 

Her  maiden  name  was  Keziah  Folger  and  she  married 
John  Coffin.  She  was  born  on  Nantucket,  October  9, 
1723. 

Phebe  A.  Hanaford.  Mrs.  Hanaford  was  born  in 
the  delightful  village  of  Siasconset,  on  May  6,  1829. 
She  is  lineally  descended  from  Tristram  Coffin  and 
Peter  Folger,  an  inheritance  dear  to  every  Nantucketer. 
She   received   her   primary   education   at    Nantucket, 


Eminent  Nantucketers  229 

where  she  also  received  tuition  from  a  private  tutor. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  G.  W.  and  Phebe  Ann  (Barnard) 
Coffin,  and  early  in  life  taught  in  the  Friends'  School 
on  Fair  Street,  now  the  Historical  Association.  She 
married  at  an  early  age,  and,  between  1868  and  1874, 
she  became  a  pastor  of  the  Universalist  Church  at  three 
places  successively.  She  is  a  very  effective  speaker  with 
a  sweet,  well-modulated  voice,  and  has  been  very 
popular  in  her  ministry:  but  it  is  in  her  auctorial  ca- 
pacity that  she  reveals  her  real  power,  as  is  well  exempli- 
fied in  her  well-known  books.  Women  of  the  Century, 
and  the  lives  of  George  Peabody  and  Abraham  Lincoln. 
Here  in  one  sense  she  is  at  her  best,  and  some  of  her 
poems  and  other  works  reached  a  circulation  of  20,000 
copies. 

It  is  in  her  own  beautiful  home,  however,  that  she 
reigns  as  "The  Angel  in  the  House."  Surrounded 
with  her  many  books,  pictures,  and  articles  of  vertu, 
and  in  the  presence  of  a  few  choice  friends,  she  shines 
to  the  greatest  advantage.  Her  charming  face  and 
sweet  voice,  with  her  amiable  disposition  and  gentle 
manner,  constitute  a  personality  that,  to  be  loved, 
has  only  to  be  seen,  and  once  seen  could  never  be 
forgotten.  She  is,  indeed,  a  gentlewoman  in  the  highest 
sense,  and  the  memories  of  her  long  life  must  be  as 
fragrant  as  spring  flowers. 

Anna  Gardner  was  bom  in  Nantucket,  January  25, 
18 16.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Hannah 
Macy  Gardner,  became  a  great  abolitionist  and  or- 
ganized a  remarkable  anti-slavery  meeting  in  Nantucket 
when  she  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  At  this  con- 
vention Frederick  Douglass  made  his  first  oration  as 
an  abolitionist  speaker. 

After  the  Civil  War,  Miss  Gardner  journeyed  through 


230  Nantucket 

several  of  the  Southern  States,  lecturing  to  the  freed 
slaves,  among  whom  she  remained  until  1878. 

She  was  an  ardent  reformer,  a  staunch  supporter  of 
women's  rights,  and  the  author  of  several  volumes  in 
prose  and  verse.  She  died  in  Nantucket,  February  18, 
1891. 

The  Rev.  Louise  S.  Baker,  daughter  of  Captain 
Arvin  and  Jerusha  Baker,  was  born  at  Nantucket, 
October  17,  1846,  and  was  educated  in  the  Nantucket 
schools.  For  nearly  eight  years  she  was  the  pastor  of 
the  North  Congregational  Church,  from  December  12, 
1880,  to  February  14,  1888,  and  it  is  stated  that  "during 
her  ministry  she  attracted  the  largest  congregation 
ever  known  in  the  church."  She  was  not  only  an  able 
preacher,  but  a  distinguished  lecturer,  and  "a  prolific 
writer  of  graceful  verse."  A  volume  of  her  poems  was 
published  in  1893  and  was  well  received.  While  her 
many  accomplishments  were  highly  appreciated,  her 
charming  personality  made  her,  indeed,  a  beloved 
daughter  of  the  island. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  thought  that  the  few  ex- 
amples just  given  exhaust  the  list  of  Nantucket's 
eminent  women.  Many  more  might  be  cited,  but  these 
will  serve  as  types,  as  will  those  of  the  men  that 
follow,  and  will,  it  is  hoped,  prove  that  Nantucket 
has  not  been  wanting  in  either  beauty  of  character  or 
intellectual  capacity. 

Charles  James  Folger.  The  distingmshed  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  bom  at  Nantucket  in  18 18,  graduated 
from  Hobart  College  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839,  and  became  a  prominent 
jurist  and  politician.  In  1844,  he  was  appointed  Judge 
of  the  Ontario  County  Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  in  1851 , 
Judge  of  Ontario  County;  and  in  1861  he  was  elected 


Eminent  Nantucketers  231 

to  the  New  York  State  Senate.  He  was  Judge  of  the 
New  York  Court  of  Appeals,  1871-81,  and  became 
Secretary  of  the  United  States  Treasury  under  President 
Arthur,  1881-84.  In  1882,  he  was  defeated  as  can- 
didate for  Governor  of  New  York  by  Grover  Cleveland, 
and  this  defeat  ended  his  political  career,  although  he 
held  his  appointment  as  United  States  Treasurer  until 
1884,  when  he  died. 

It  has  been  well  said  of  him:  "He  was  the  ablest 
State  Senator  since  Seward's  time,  and  maintained 
himself  in  that  trying  position  without  encountering 
a  breath  of  reproach.  He  was  never  classed  as  any 
man's  man."  Such  testimony  is  creditable  to  his 
official  attainments  and  integrity;  but  behind  all  was 
the  uncompromising  sense  of  right  and  justice,  the 
unalienable  principles  of  a  sublime  selfhood,  which 
never  swerved  from  honesty  of  purpose,  and  which, 
ever  actuating  him  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  were 
as  exalted  as  they  were  incorruptible. 

"Walter  Folger,  Jr.,  the  famous  astronomer  and  mathe- 
matician, was  also  a  Nantucketer,  born  on  the  island  June 
12,  1765.  Although  generally  recognized  as  an  illustri- 
ous and  versatile  genius,  he  was,  nevertheless,  almost  en- 
tirely self-taught.  Restricted  by  no  school  or  college 
routine,  but  always  observant,  ever  studious,  his  Protean 
natural  gifts  enabled  him  to  excel  in  many  directions. 
He  became  an  expert  mechanic,  a  profound  mathema- 
tician, as  well  as  an  accomplished  scientist. 

As  a  lawyer,  a  jurist,  and  a  statesman  he  also  won 
unequivocal  distinction.  Of  his  many  other  attain- 
ments the  late  W.  C.  Folger  thus  wrote  of  him: 

He  acted  as  surveyor  of  land,  repaired  watches,  clocks, 
and  chronometers,  made  compasses,  engraved  on  copper 


22)2  Nantucket 

and  other  metals,  made  several  chemical  and  other  scientific 
discoveries,  calculated  eclipses,  and  understood  and  spoke 
the  French  language.  ^ 

In  addition  to  all  these  acquirements,  he  studied 
medicine,  became  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  a 
member  of  both  branches  of  the  State  Legislature,  and 
represented  the  Nantucket  district  of  Massachusetts 
for  four  years  in  the  United  States  Congress. 

He  was,  moreover,  a  man  of  exalted  character,  excep- 
tionally upright  and  honorable  amid  all  the  circum- 
stances of  his  life,  through  which  he  passed  with  an 
irreproachable  reputation.  Surely  such  a  man  was  an 
honor  to  any  place,  or  to  any  country,  and  Nantucket 
honors  him  as  one  of  her  sons  of  whom  she  is  proud, 
and  whose  birth  within  her  sea-girt  domain  has  honored 
her. 

He  died  on  Nantucket,  September  12,  1849. 

William  and  Henry  Mitchell,  father  and  son,  shared 
with  one  another  the  pride  of  being,  respectively,  the 
father  and  brother  of  Maria  Mitchell,  the  famous 
astronomer.  Quite  apart  from  this  distinction,  both 
were  men  of  light  and  leading,  each  in  his  own  sphere 
distinguished  and  pre-eminent.  William  Mitchell's 
father  having  suffered  pecuniary  loss  by  the  failure  of 
the  whale  fishery,  his  son  was  prevented,  when  a  young 
man,  from  entering  Harvard,  as  he  had  intended.  He 
was,  however,  a  well-read  man,  with  a  cultivated  scien- 
tific mind,  and  became  master  of  the  first  free-school 
established  in  Nantucket  in  1827.  By  temperament, 
disposition,  and  accomplishments  he  was  remarkably 
well  constituted  for  teaching,  and  he  loved  the  work  of 

'  For  a  description  of  the  marvelous  astronomical  clock,  invented 
and  made  by  Mr.  Folger,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  XIX. 


Eminent  Nantucketers  233 

imparting  knowledge  as  he  loved  the  pupils  whom  he 
taught ;  and  he  thus  won  their  confidence  and  affection 
in  return.  He  was  modest  and  retiring,  but  was  re- 
markably tender-hearted  and  affectionate,  and  his 
love  for  his  own  family  was,  perhaps,  the  greatest  joy 
of  his  existence.  With  all  his  reticence  he  was  a  very 
scholarly  man,  and  his  attainments  as  a  scientist  were 
of  a  very  high  order,  while  his  lectures  on  scientific 
subjects  were  always  regarded  as  an  intellectual  treat. 
After  teaching  for  a  few  years,  his  health  failed,  and 
he  became  Secretary  of  the  Phoenix  Marine  Insurance 
Co.,  and,  later.  Cashier  of  the  Pacific  Bank.  He  re- 
mained, with  great  credit  to  himself,  in  the  latter  posi- 
tion until  the  lamented  death  of  his  wife  in  1861,  when 
he  and  his  daughter  removed  to  Lynn,  where  they  lived 
until  Maria  was  appointed  Professor  of  Astronomy  at 
Vassar  College.  During  the  previous  thirty  or  forty 
years  in  Nantucket  he  had  acted  as  President  of  the 
Athenaeum,  had  been  a  member  of  the  State  Senate, 
and  for  several  years  was  a  member  of  Governor 
Briggs's  Council.  He  had  also  served  as  Chairman  of 
the  Observatory  Committee  at  Harvard,  and  was  for 
a  number  of  years  an  overseer  of  Harvard  Universitj^ 
He  was,  moreover,  frequently  in  correspondence,  on 
questions  and  observations  connected  with  astron- 
omy, with  the  savants  of  Europe  and  America,  in- 
cluding the  Astronomer-Royal  of  England  and  Sir 
John  Herschel.  All  who  knew  him  loved  and  respected 
him. 

His  last  years  were  spent  in  quietude  and  comfort 
with  his  beloved  daughter  at  Vassar  College,  where  he 
died  peacefully  in  April,  1869.  The  following  expres- 
sions from  a  Poughkeepsie  paper  voice  the  grief  that 
was  felt  at  Vassar,  for  his  loss : 


234  Nantucket 

To  the  younger  members  of  our  little  community  Mr. 
Mitchell  was  like  an  affectionate  grandfather,  to  the  older 
ones  a  much  loved  father;  and  there  is  not  a  home  in  New- 
England,  in  the  North,  or  in  the  South  .  .  .  but  will  feel 
that  in  his  death  it  has  lost  a  very  dear  friend.  What 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  our  country,  William  Mitchell 
was  to  us. 


He  was  interred  in  the  Friends'  burying  ground  at 
Nantucket  on  April  22,  1869. 

His  son,  Henry  Mitchell,  followed  in  the  footsteps 
of  his  father  and  sister.  He  was  an  assistant  in  the 
Coast  Survey  where  he  made  a  world-wide  reputation, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences. 

The  Rev.  Ferdinand  C.  Ewer,  D.D.,  was  well  known 
and  highly  esteemed  throughout  America,  not  only  as 
a  theologian  but  as  a  litterateur  and  a  scientist. 

He  was  bom  at  Nantucket,  May  22,  1826,  and  was 
always  proud  of  his  birthplace,  in  the  welfare  of  which 
he  was  much  interested.  As  a  clergyman  he  belonged 
to  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  the  author  of  numer- 
ous works  more  or  less  of  a  polemical  character,  in 
which  he  displayed  notable  scholarship  and  a  cultured 
literary  style.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  of  the 
Class  of  1848.  Before  his  ordination  he  was  engaged 
in  literary  pursuits,  and  officiated  as  editor  of  a  news- 
paper and  a  literary  magazine.  He  was  ordained,  in 
1857,  by  Bishop  Kip  and  succeeded  him  as  rector, 
having  obtained  priest's  orders  early  in  January,  1858. 
Two  years  later,  his  health  failing,  he  went  to  New  York 
where  he  became  assistant  to  Dr.  Gallaudet  and  was 
subsequently  called  to  the  rectorship  of  Christ's  Church. 
Finally  he  became  Rector  of  St.  Ignatius'  Church,  New 


Eminent  Nantucketers  235 

York, — a  position  which  he  occupied  for  a  number  of 
years  with  much  success. 

He  was  an  effective  preacher  and  a  good  adminis- 
trator, and  every  aspect  of  his  character  was  distin- 
guished by  force,  individuaUty,  and  pervasive  geniality. 
He  was,  indeed,  a  man  of  exceptional  culture  and  varied 
attainments,  and  was  ranked  as  a  competent  geologist 
as  well  as  an  accomplished  civil  engineer.  He  made  a 
special  study  of  the  geology  and  topography  of  Nan- 
tucket, and  his  map  of  the  island  is  remarkable  for 
exactitude  of  detail  and  artistic  delineation.  Much 
esteemed  and  lamented  he  died  suddenly  in  his  fifty- 
eighth  year  at  Montreal,  when  preaching  in  the  Church 
of  St.  John  the  Evangelist  in  that  city. 

Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin,Bart.,  was  a  distinguished  son 
of  Massachusetts  and  of  direct  descent  from  Tristram 
Coffin,  Nantucket's  first  Chief  Magistrate.  Although 
not  actually  bom  on  Nantucket  Island,  he  loved  it  as 
the  mother  of  his  race,  and,  during  a  visit  in  1826, 
acknowledged  his  kinship  and  alliance,  by  founding  and 
endowing  the  well-known  school  which  bears  his  name. 
The  mere  accident  of  birth  cannot,  therefore,  justifiably 
preclude  him  from  the  fellowship  of  those  representing 
the  illustrious  sons  and  daughters  of  the  island. 

From  the  Life  of  Tristram  Coffin,'^  it  appears  that 
Isaac  Coffin  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth 
Coffin,  and  was  bom  in  Boston,  Mass.,  May  16,  1759. 
He  entered  the  English  Navy  in  1773;  was  commis- 
sioned Lieutenant  in  1778,  Captain  1781,  Rear- Admiral 
of  the  White  in  1804,  when  he  also  obtained  a  baronetcy ; 
became  Vice- Admiral  in  1808,  and  Admiral  in  1817. 
He  died  at  Cheltenham,  England,  in  1839,  aged  eighty 
years,  and  without  issue. 

^  By  Men  Coffin,  LL.B. 


236  Nantucket 

At  the  time  of  his  being  created  a  baronet  he  was 
granted  an  estate  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
River,  known  as  the  Magdalen  Islands.  He  was  a 
personal  friend  of  the  Diike  of  Clarence  who,  when  he 
became  King  William  IV,  continued  to  show  him 
favor,  and  wished  to  create  him  Earl  of  Magdalen. 
The  ministers  objected,  however,  on  the  ground  of  his 
strong  attachment  to  his  native  country.  They  cited 
especially  his  fitting  out  of  a  vessel  with  Yankee  lads 
from  his  Lancastrian  School  at  Nantucket  to  make 
master-mariners  of  them.  This  could  not  be  viewed 
in  England  with  favor;  so  it  may  in  truth  be  said  that 
the  Cofhn  School  at  Nantucket  cost  the  Admiral  an 
earldom,  and  came  near  sacrificing  his  baronetcy.  ^ 

Captain  George  Wiliiam  Coffin,  U.  S.  N.,  was  a  dis- 
tinguished Nantucketer  who  was  bom  on  the  island 
December  22,  1845.  He  joined  the  U.  S.  Navy  on 
December  20,  i860,  and  worked  his  way  up  steadily 
through  the  lower  grades  until  September  27,  1893, 
when  he  was  appointed  Captain.  The  following  notes 
are  taken  from  a  biographical  sketch  of  his  career. 
In  1863,  he  was  assigned  to  the  U.  S.  sloop  Ticonderoga, 
of  the  North  Atlantic  blockading  squadron,  serving  in 
both  attacks  (1864-65)  on  Fort  Fisher  and  subsequently 
had  a  long  and  honorable  career. 

Captain  Coffin  was  always  a  brave  and  efficient 
officer,  who  earned  his  promotion  by  hard  and  constant 
routine  service.  He  was  on  sea  duty  sixteen  years 
ten  months;  on  shore  duty  for  an  equal  period;  on 
leave  and  waiting  orders  four  years  eleven  months, 
making  a  total  of  thirty-eight  years  six  months  twenty- 
six  days.     In  December,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Mary 

'  A  fine  portrait  in  oil  of  Sir  Isaac,  by  Sir  Wm.  Beechey,  graces  the 
walls  of  the  Coffin  School. 


Eminent  Nantucketers  237 

S.  Cartwrlght,  of  Nantucket.  She  died  in  1893,  one 
daughter,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Anderson,  surviving."'^  Cap- 
tain Coffin  passed  away  at  Yokohama  June  16,  1899, 
just  as  his  long  service  and  fidelity  to  duty  were  about 
to  be  rewarded  by  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Admiral. 

William  Hussey  Macy.  It  was  vouchsafed  to  but 
a  very  few  of  all  the  thousands  of  sterling  Nantucket 
men  who  participated  in  those  stirring  scenes  which 
were  enacted  by  the  American  whalemen  ' '  around  Cape 
Horn"  in  the  early  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  to  be 
able,  in  after  years,  with  unfailing  memory  and  facile 
pen,  to  re-enact  those  scenes  and  make  them  live  again 
for  the  entertainment  and  information  of  others.  Chief 
among  these  few,  perhaps,  was  the  subject  of  this  brief 
sketch,  and  it  may  safely  be  said  that  no  one  has  thus 
done  more  to  ensure  and  perpetuate  the  fame  of  his 
native  isle,  or  left  a  more  graphic  and  enduring  record 
of  the  distinctive  type  of  industry  which  contributed 
so  much  to  its  early  prosperity  and  high  repute. 

Born  on  the  island  May  18,  1826,  a  direct  descendant, 
in  the  seventh  generation,  from  the  first  settler,  Thomas 
Macy,  he  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Friends.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen,  he  was  attending  high  school,  work- 
ing in  a  grocery  store  between  sessions,  and  teaching 
in  an  evening  school — many  of  his  pupils  being  older 
than  himself.  But  Fate  never  intended  him  for  a 
pedagogue.  The  love  of  the  sea,  inherited  from  genera- 
tions of  mariners,  and  fostered  by  an  environment 
reeking  with  salt  and  tar,  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted 
by  one  of  his  lively  and  romantic  imagination,  so  in 
the  autumn  of  1841,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  we  find  him 
sailing  before  the  mast  in  the  new  ship  Potomac,  of 
Nantucket,  Isaac  B.  Hussey,  master,  for  a  sperm  whal- 

'  Sea-girt  Nantucket,  by  courtesy  of  H.  S.  Wyer. 


238  Nantucket 

ing  voyage  to  the  Pacific,  which  lasted  nearly  four  years. 
His  private  journal  of  this  voyage  is  a  model  of  its 
kind,  and  a  document  of  rare  and  unusual  interest, 
filled  with  his  youthful  impressions  of  the  life  and  of 
the  places  visited,  depicted  with  both  pen  and  brush 
in  a  manner  scarcely  to  be  credited  in  one  of  his  years 
and  previous  advantages. 

Returning  in  1845,  he  apprenticed  himself  to  a  cooper 
for  eighteen  months,  mastered  the  trade,  and  shipped 
again  in  '47,  commanding  a  cooper's  "lay,"  which, 
being  one  of  the  best,  next  to  that  of  the  captain  and 
first  officer,  doubtless  justified  the  "lost  time"  ashore. 
During  the  next  ten  years,  as  cooper,  second  officer,  and 
mate,  he  made  three  complete  voyages,  on  the  return 
from  the  last  of  which,  in  1857,  he  married  Phebe  Ann 
Winslow,  of  Nantucket,  and  for  the  next  two  years 
worked  at  his  trade  ashore. 

But  times  were  hard  just  then,  at  Nantucket,  so 
in  1859  he  was  again  at  sea,  this  time  as  mate  of  a 
brig  on  a  sea-elephant  oil  voyage  to  Kurd's  Island  on 
the  edge  of  the  Antarctic.  This  proved  a  "broken 
voyage,"  the  ship  was  sold  in  a  foreign  port,  and  he 
worked  his  way  home,  arriving  in  1861  poorer  than 
when  he  set  sail. 

The  Civil  War  having  broken  out,  he  enlisted,  went 
south  with  the  45th  Massachusetts  Infantry,  which 
contained  many  Nantucket  men,  saw  active  service  in 
Gen.  Burnside's  campaign  in  North  Carolina,  and  re- 
ceived a  bad  gunshot  wound  in  the  leg  at  the  battle  of 
Kinston,  December  14,  1862,  which  incapacitated  him 
for  further  service.  After  eight  weeks  in  hospital  he 
received  his  discharge,  and  during  the  next  few  years 
was  located  at  Philadelphia  and  Boston,  working  at 
coopering  or  whatever  came  to  hand. 


Eminent  Nantucketers  239 

Returning  to  Nantucket  in  1869,  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  Register  of  Deeds  for  the  county,  and 
his  wanderings  were  over.  For  twenty-two  years, 
thereafter,  until  his  death  in  1891,  he  faithfully  per- 
formed the  duties  of  his  office  to  the  satisfaction  of 
all. 

In  1874,  his  eyesight  began  to  fail,  the  trouble  being 
an  atrophy  of  the  optic  nerves,  and,  though  the  best 
specialists  were  consulted  and  everything  possible  done 
to  avert  the  calamity,  in  a  little  over  a  year  he  became 
totally  blind.  His  devoted  wife  died  at  about  the  same 
time,  in  1875,  and  he  was  left  with  a  family  of  five  young 
children  to  support  and  educate.  And  bravely  did  he 
perform  the  task.  For  fear  of  any  possible  legal  com- 
plications, should  the  question  of  a  blind  man's  fitness 
for  such  an  office  ever  be  raised,  he  formally  resigned 
his  position,  and  one  of  his  friends  (the  late  Andrew 
M.  Myrick)  was  elected  as  the  legal  incumbent  of  the 
office.  But  the  work  was  done,  as  before,  by  or  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Macy,  with  a  hired  assistant,  and 
that  it  was  well  done  the  records  themselves,  as  well  as 
the  hundreds  of  deeds  and  other  instruments  drafted 
from  his  dictation,  amply  attest. 

Were  this  the  whole  story  of  the  life  of  this  remarkable 
man,  interesting  though  it  might  be  as  an  example  of 
duty  well  performed  and  difficulties  met  and  overcome, 
it  might  hardly  prove  worthy  of  a  place  in  this  book, 
but  his  particular  contribution  to  the  history  of  his 
native  island  is  yet  to  be  chronicled. 

From  the  days  of  his  early  voyages  he  had  displayed 
an  unusual  gift  for  narrating  the  stories  of  his  adven- 
tures, and  while  still  in  the  twenties,  with  no  other 
preparation  than  has  been  herein  set  down,  he  had 
found  publishers  for  many  of  them.     During  the  fifties 


240  Nantucket 

and  sixties,  his  whaling  "yarns"  and  stories  of  the  sea 
had  found  favor  with  many  readers  of  the  old  Ballou's 
Monthly  Magazine,  The  Flag  of  Our  Union,  Capt. 
Mayne  Reid's  Onward  Magazine,  The  True  Flag,  and 
other  periodicals,  and  many  of  these  stories  had  been 
reprinted  in  the  Nantucket  Mirror,  and  later  in  the 
Inquirer  and  Mirror. 

Upon  the  approach  of  his  blindness  he  felt  the  need 
of  some  method  of  continuing  his  literary  work,  and 
after  examining  all  the  appliances  then  known  enabling 
the  blind  to  write,  and  finding  them  all  inadequate  to 
his  purpose,  he  invented  a  machine  of  his  own,  which 
he  called  his  "blmd  writer,"  and  with  this  he  turned 
out  thousands  of  pages  of  fairly  legible  manuscript, 
continuing  to  delight  a  host  of  readers  for  many  years 
thereafter. 

His  best  known  work.  There  She  Blows;  or,  The  Log 
of  the  "  Arethusa,''  published  at  Boston  by  Lee  Shep- 
ard  about  1878,  has  been  called  a  classic  in  the  annals 
of  whaling,  and  it  remains  to-day  perhaps  the  best 
all-round  story  of  a  whaling  voyage  which  has  ever 
been  published.  Other  works  of  some  length  were  Up 
North  in  the  ''Gorgon,''  a  story  of  a  "right"  whaling 
voyage  in  the  Arctic,  and  Beyond  Desolation,  which 
describes  the  sea-elephant  catching  in  the  Antarctic. 
Scores  of  shorter  stories  from  his  pen  were  printed  at 
various  times  and  places  during  a  period  of  some  thirty 
years  or  more,  and  one  book  of  poems  Here  and  There 
in  Verse,  was  published  at  Nantucket  in  1877. 

For  many  years  his  "leaders,"  covering  a  wide  range 
of  subjects  and  appearing  weekly  in  the  Nantucket 
Inquirer  and  Mirror,  were  eagerly  looked  for  and  read 
by  his  fellow-townsmen,  and  were  widely  quoted  in 
the  metropolitan  journals  of  the  day.     This  was  also 


Eminent  Nantucketers  241 

true  of  many  of  his  fugitive  verses,  mostly  of  a  humorous 
nature,  some  of  them  gems  of  spontaneous  wit  and 
satire. 

He  died  at  Nantucket  March,  1891,  in  his  sixty-fifth 
year,  and  was  widely  and  sincerely  mourned  by  all  who 
had  known  him  in  life, 

A  fairly  complete  collection  of  his  writings  may  be 
found  in  the  library  of  the  Perkins  Institution  for  the 
Blind  at  Boston. 

Lieut.-Col.  John  W.  Smmnerhayes,  son  of  the  late 
William  and  Lydia  Wyer  Summerhayes,  was  born  on 
Nantucket,  January  6,  1835.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Loyal  Legion  and  of  the  Grand  Army  and  had  served 
four  years  in  a  regiment  of  Massachusetts  volunteers 
at  an  early  period  of  his  career.  For  twenty-two  years 
he  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  serving  through 
Indian  campaigns  and  wild  life  on  the  frontiers.  At 
one  time,  he  was  with  General  Stanley,  Commander  of 
the  Department  of  Texas,  at  Fort  Sam  Houston  during 
the  first  preliminary  survey  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway.  Finally,  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, in  deserved  recognition  of  his  sterling 
qualities  as  a  man  and  as  a  soldier. 

Col.  Summerhayes  was  a  typical  soldier.  He  had 
much  decision  of  character,  and  an  uncompromising 
repugnance  towards  anything  that  was  not  straight- 
forward; at  the  same  time  he  was  the  most  genial  and 
companionable  of  men,  and  had  a  keen  sense  of  humor 
which  made  him  beloved  by  all  who  came  into  contact 
with  him. 

Fortunately  his  noteworthy  and  checkered  experi- 
ences during  many  years  in  the  West  have  been  vividly 
portrayed  in  Vanished  Arizona,  a  most  interesting 
narrative  written  by  his  brave  and  gifted  wife,  who 
16 


242  Nantucket 

was  his  companion  and  helpmeet  amid  all  his  perilous 
services. 

He  passed  away  at  Nantucket,  on  March  8,  191 1, 
and  his  body  is  interrred  in  Arlington  Cemetery,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Seth  Mitchell  Ackley,  late  Rear  Admiral,  U.  S.  N., 
was  bom  at  Nantucket,  October  13,  1845.  He  was 
appointed  midshipman  October  6,  1862.  He  served 
in  regular  order  until  October  25,  1901,  when  with  the 
rank  of  Captain,  he  was  retired  for  physical  disability. 
He  was  reinstated,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress, 
in  April,  1904,  and  promoted  to  Captain  on  the  active 
list. 

He  was  promoted  to  Rear  Admiral  February,  1907, 
and  died  in  Washington,  February  7,  1908. 

Born  on  the  island  of  Nantucket  of  seafaring  an- 
cestors, and  bred  in  that  home  of  hardy  and  adventur- 
ous seamen  (his  father  a  sea-captain,  with  whom  as  a 
boy  he  had  made  a  voyage  to  California),  he  was  sin- 
gularly well-prepared  for  the  Navy,  which  he  entered 
with  enthusiasm. 

An  examination  of  his  official  record  shows  that  not 
only  was  his  actual  sea-duty  extensive  and  varied,  but 
that,  when  given  "shore-duty,"  his  scientific  and  pro- 
fessional bent  led  him  to  the  Coast  Survey,  the  Naval 
Observatory,  torpedo  duty,  the  Naval  War  College, 
the  Hydrographic  Office,  and  lighthouse  duty. 

The  confidence  shown  in  him  by  his  seniors  was 
evidenced  by  their  giving  him,  at  various  times,  the 
highly  important  position  of  Hydrographic  Inspector 
of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey,  and  of  Naval  Secretary  of 
the  Lighthouse  Board. 

All  his  life,  in  whatever  position  placed,  from  Mid- 
shipman to  Rear- Admiral,  at  all  times  and  places,  as 


Eminent  Nantucketers  243 

classmate,  messmate,  shipmate,  friend,  or  acquaint- 
ance, he  was  faithful,  upright,  and  just.  The  keynote 
of  Seth  Mitchell  Ackley's  life  was  a  single-hearted 
devotion  to  his  duty,  as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman;  his 
reward  was  the  affection  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him. 

It  is  not  generally  known,  nor  is  it  recorded  in  the 
files  of  the  Navy  Department,  that  Admiral  Ackley, 
when  a  lieutenant,  nobly  risked  his  life,  in  1873,  in 
trying  to  save  a  seaman  who  had  fallen  overboard  from 
his  ship,  the  Omaha.  The  Lieutenant,  divesting  him- 
self of  his  coat  and  shoes,  plunged  in  after  him,  in  a 
rolling  sea  infested  with  man-eating  sharks,  and  only 
after  considerable  difficulty  was  he  himself  saved  when 
two  miles  away  from  his  ship.  The  poor  fellow,  whom 
Lieutenant  Ackley  so  bravely  tried  to  save,  was  in- 
jured by  striking  the  rail  of  the  ship  in  falling,  and, 
probably  thus  rendered  unconscious,  soon  sank  in 
the  deep  to  rise  no  more. 

Such  an  act  as  this  assuredly  merited  public  recogni- 
tion, if  not  the  bestowal  of  a  gold  medal,  but  the  hero's 
own  sense  of  duty  well-performed  was  the  only  reward 
forthcoming  for  such  an  heroic  act. 

Admiral  Ackley  is  buried  on  Nantucket  within 
sound  of  the  sea  he  loved,  on  the  island  which  was  the 
dearest  spot  of  earth  to  him. 

Among  many  others  that  deserve  notice  as  "Eminent 
Nantucketers"  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  Dr. 
Zaccheus  Macy,  Dr.  Arthur  Elwell  Jenks,  the  gentle 
idealist,  poet,  and  artist;  Dr.  Joseph  Sidney  Mitchell; 
Owen  C.  Spooner,  Samuel  Haynes  Jenks,  Alfred  Macy, 
Roland  H.  Macy,  William  Francis  Barnard,  Reuben 
Chase,  William  Rotch,  Reuben  R.  Pinkham,  Colonel 


244  Nantucket 

Bray  ton,  and  many  others  who  have  shed  Hfe  and  lustre 
over  the  island. 

The  limitations  of  space  prevent  the  inclusion  here 
of  any  biographical  details. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

the  nantucket  flora 

By  Grace  Brown  Gardner 

Islands  have  always  been  of  particular  interest  to 
botanists.  Their  boundaries  being  definite,  it  is  com- 
paratively easy  to  collect,  classify,  and  arrange  their 
flora,  a  task  much  more  difficult  where  one  section  or 
country  is  separated  from  another  by  artificial  boun- 
daries only.  Among  islands,  surely  none  has  proved 
more  fascinating,  not  only  to  the  amateur  lover  of 
flowers,  but  also  to  the  most  scientific  of  botanists,  than 
has  Nantucket.  Small  in  area,  but  rich  in  the  number 
of  its  plant  species,  many  of  which  are  rare  or  entirely 
unknown  in  the  vicinity,  the  island  has  for  many  years 
been  a  Mecca  for  botanists. 

Mrs.  Maria  L.  Owen,  in  her  catalogue  of  Nantucket 
plants,  speaks  of  a  "Frenchman,  Marsillac,  who  nearly 
a  hundred  years  ago,  regardless  of  his  silk  stockings, 
plunged  into  the  swamps  for  their  floral  treasures." 
Since  then  William  Oakes,  Rev.  Thomas  Morong, 
Pres.  Hitchcock  of  Amherst,  Mr.  Loren  L.  Dame,  F. 
Schuyler  Mathews,  and  Mrs.  Nellie  F.  Flynn  have 
made  collections  of  the  island  flora.  At  the  present 
time,   Mr.   Eugene  P.   Bicknell  is  publishing  a  most 

245 


246  Nantucket 

interesting  list  of  "The  Ferns  and  Flowering  Plants  of 
Nantucket,"  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey  Botanical 
Club. 

While  Nantucket  is  only  thirty  miles  from  the  main- 
land, the  nearness  of  the  Gulf  Stream  modifies  its 
climate  perceptibly.  The  temperature  averages,  by 
several  degrees,  warmer  in  winter  and  cooler  in  summer 
than  on  the  adjacent  mainland.  Many  people  who 
read  of  the  occasional  isolation  of  the  island  in  the  win- 
ter, on  account  of  ice  blockades,  do  not  reahze  that  it  is 
rarely  the  ice  frozen  in  place  which  makes  the  trouble, 
but  drift  ice  from  the  shores  north  and  west  of  Nan- 
tucket. Such  drift-ice  is  driven  in  this  direction  by  the 
prevailing  northwest  winds,  and,  owing  to  the  peculiar 
formation  of  the  island,  is  caught  and  piled  up  between 
Tuckernuck  Island  on  the  west  and  the  arm  of  Great 
Point  on  the  east,  thus  blocking  the  northern  coast 
and  harbor  entrance. 

The  autumn  season  is  especially  mild,  and  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  find  garden  plants  continuing  in  bloom 
well  into  December.  This  not  only  gives  plants  a  long 
growing  season,  and  opportunity  to  ripen  their  seeds, 
but,  combined  with  the  mildness  of  the  winter,  allows 
plants  to  flourish  here  which  can  not  stand  the  longer 
and  colder  winters  of  the  mainland.  We  thus  find 
Nantucket  given  in  the  botany  as  the  northern  limit 
for  several  species  of  plants.  Among  them  may  be 
noted  the  cactus  {Opuntia  vulgaris,  Mill.),  which  is 
found  on  Coatue,  and  from  there  south  to  South  Caro- 
lina. A  species  of  bladderwort  {Utricularia  suhulata, 
L.)  has  a  range  from  Nantucket  to  New  Jersey  and 
south.  St.  Peter's-wort  {Ascyrum  hypericoides,  L.) 
grows  from  Nantucket  to  southern  Illinois,  Nebraska 
and  southward. 


The  Nantucket  Flora  247 

The  geological  formation  of  the  island  has  a  direct 
influence  upon  its  flora.  As  the  soil  is  mainly  composed 
of  glacial  drift,  sand,  pebbles,  and  occasional  boulders, 
and  as  there  are  no  rock  ledges  whatever,  we  find  a 
marked  absence  of  rock  ferns,  saxifrages,  and  other  rock- 
loving  plants.  Since  Nantucket  is  an  island  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  other  land,  some  plants  in  the 
course  of  years  have  come  to  differ  slightly  from  the 
same  species  elsewhere.  Perhaps  the  most  noteworthy 
is  our  sabbatia  [Sabhatia  gracilis,  (Michx.)  Salisb.], 
which  varies  from  the  type  description  in  Gray's 
Manual. 

The  tree-felling  of  the  early  settlers  caused  great 
changes  in  the  flora.  The  probability  is  that  at  the 
time  of  the  settlement  of  Nantucket,  parts  of  the  island 
were  rather  heavily  wooded.  ^  Large  trunks  and  roots 
of  trees  have  been  found  in  peat  swamps  in  various 
parts  of  the  island.^  It  is  a  tradition  that  several 
buildings  now  standing  were  built  of  native  timber.^ 
Early  deeds  speak  of  timber  and  fuel  wood,  and  old 
wills  bequeath  wood  lots.  Names,  as  "Grove  Lane," 
and  "The  Woods"  still  remain,  though  there  are  no 
trees  in  the  vicinity  at  present.  That  these  woods  were 
quickly  used  up  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  a  petition 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  1 780,  the  petitioners  represent 
themselves  as  being  "wholly  destitute  of  firewood."'* 
At  present  there  are  only  a  few  pine  and  larch  trees 
which  have  been  planted  within  recent  times.  Doubt- 
less the  wood  plants  common  to  this  region  were  at  one 

^  Macy's  History  of  Nantucket,  pp.  25-26. 

'  Sarah  Winthrop  Smith,  Nantucket :  A  Brief  Sketch  of  its  Physio- 
graphy and  Botany,  p.  19. 

3  The  Congregational  church  vestry. 
^  Macy's  History  of  Nantucket,  p.  117. 


248  Nantucket 

time  found  in  the  Nantucket  woods.  The  destruction 
of  these  woods  probably  caused  the  extinction  of  some 
plants,  as  the  trilliums,  the  rattlesnake  plantains,  and 
the  wood  ferns.  Other  woodland  species  seem  to  be 
slowly  dying  out.  The  goldthread  [Coptis  Irijolia 
(L).  Salisb.]  which  Mrs.  Owen,  in  1888,  includes  with- 
out comment  in  her  list  of  Nantucket  plants,  is  an 
example.  No  one  has  been  able  to  find  a  trace  of  it 
within  late  years,  though  diligent  search  has  been 
made.  Still  other  wood  plants  have  adapted  themselves 
to  the  changed  environment.  The  pink  lady's-slipper 
{Cypripediiim  acaule,  Ait.),  which  is  usually  found  in 
woods,  grows  here  on  the  open  commons  among  the 
reindeer  moss  and  the  mealy  plum  vines  [Arctostaphylos 
Uva-ursi  (L.)  Spreng.].  The  Indian-pipe  {Monoiropa 
tiniflora,  L.)  grows  in  great  profusion  in  similar  environ- 
ment, while  the  botany  gives  its  habitat  as  "dark  rich 
woods." 

The  early  system  of  land  owning  in  common,  and 
the  former  extensive  industry  of  sheep  raising,  also, 
had  marked  influence  upon  the  island  plants.  At  the 
time  of  the  settlement  of  the  island,  all  the  land,  except 
such  pieces  as  were  set  aside  for  homesteads,  and  de- 
signated as  "house-lot  land,"  was  held  in  common  by 
the  twenty-seven  original  proprietors.^  For  many 
years,  these  "Commons"  were  used  for  sheep  pastur- 
age, being  divided  into  several  pastures  which  were 
used  in  rotation,  each  man  being  allowed  to  pasture  a 
number  of  sheep  proportionate  to  the  number  of 
"Commons"  he  owned.  The  land  being  thus  closely 
grazed,  the  native  plants  were  almost,  if  not  completely, 
exterminated,  or  grew  only  in  places  inaccessible  to 
sheep.     As  may  be  readily  seen,  such  a  system  of  land- 

'  Macy's  History  of  Nantucket,  chapter  ii. 


The  Nantucket  Flora  249 

holding  soon  became  full  of  complications.  Since  the 
early  settlers  refused  to  have  land  set  off  to  individuals, 
shares  were  subdivided  by  inheritance  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  make  it  practically  impossible  to  determine 
the  ownership  of  much  land.  This  land  is  unfenced, 
and  has  never  been  cultivated.  Since  laws  were 
passed  forbidding  owners  to  allow  sheep  to  run  at  large, 
plants  have  had  a  chance  to  grow  unchecked.  The 
result  is  an  unusual  luxuriance  of  growth.  In  the 
latter  part  of  May,  the  commons  are  blue  with  sheets 
of  bird-foot  violets  {Viola  pedeta  L.).  Bluets  {Hoiis- 
tonia  ccerulea  L.)  and  a  large  variety  of  field  chickweed 
{Cerastium  arvense  L.)  bloom  at  the  same  time,  and 
these  three  plants  carpet  the  commons.  The  hudsonia, 
or  poverty  grass  {Hudsonia  ericoides  L.  and  H.  tomen- 
tosa  Nutt.),  a  plant  characteristic  of  poor  soil,  covers 
acres  with  its  tiny  yellow  blossoms  in  June.  In  July, 
the  poly  gala  {Poly  gala  polygama  Walt.)  is  perhaps  the 
most  conspicuous,  its  tiny  pinkish  flowers  growing  in 
sandy  soil  and  bordering  the  rutted  roads.  Its  flowers 
bear  a  superficial  resemblance  to  the  Scotch  heather, 
often  deceiving  summer  visitors  to  whom  the  plant  is 
unfamiliar.  In  August,  the  golden  aster  [Chrysopsis 
falcata  (Pursh.)  Ell.]  takes  its  tiirn  in  beautifying  the 
commons  with  its  cheery  yellow  blossoms.  Although 
the  evergreen  leaves  of  mealy  plum  [Ardostaphylos 
Uva-ursi  (L.)  Spreng.]  cover  the  ground  throughout  the 
year,  it  is  most  noticeable  during  September,  when  its 
red  berries  contrast  so  beautifully  with  its  glossy  green 
leaves  and  the  gray  reindeer  moss  with  which  it  is  so 
often  associated.  The  floral  display  closes  with  the 
goldenrods  and  asters  which  reach  their  perfection  in 
October,  but  last  well  into  November.  While  all  of 
these  plants  are  found  on  the  adjacent  mainland,  they 


250  Nantucket 

are  not  found  in  such  profusion,  as  our  commons  furnish 
them  with  an  unusually  favorable  environment. 

Many  peat  swamps  are  found  on  the  island,  and,  as 
these  were  inaccessible  to  sheep  and  are  unfit  for  cul- 
tivation, they  have  never  been  disturbed.  Here  some 
of  our  rarer  plants  reward  the  patient  seeker.  Among 
them  are  the  orchids,  the  arethusa  {Arethusa  hulhosa  L.), 
grass  pink  [Calopogoji  pidchellus  (Sw.)  R.Br.],  and  adder's 
mouth  [Pogonia  ophioglossoides  (L.)  Ker.],  the  white 
fringed  orchis  [Habenaria  blephiariglottis  (Willd.)  Torn], 
and  that  rarest  of  all  our  orchids,  the  yellow  orchis 
[Habenaria  ciliaris  (L.)  R.  Br.].  The  beautiful  rose 
pink  sabbatia  [Sabbatia  gracilis  (Michx.)  Salisb.]  borders 
a  few  of  our  ponds.  There  are  also  found  three  varieties 
of  sundew,  {Drosera  rotundijolia  L.,  D.  longifolia  L., 
and  D.filijormis  Raf .) ,  whichhave  curious  leaves  covered 
with  glittering  drops  of  a  sticky  substance  to  entrap 
tiny  insects.  The  pitcher  plant  {Sarracenia  purpurea 
L.),  another  insectivorous  plant,  is  found  in  a  few  bogs, 
as  are  many  other  beautiful  and  curious  plants  too 
numerous  to  mention.  Some  of  these  plants,  however, 
are  in  danger  of  extinction  at  present,  as  a  result  of  the 
introduction  of  the  cranberry  industry,  which  makes 
it  profitable  to  clear  and  drain  the  formerly  worthless 
peat  swamps.  While  we  gladly  welcome  the  new 
industry  in  Nantucket,  the  botanist  can  hardly  refrain 
from  feeling  some  regret  at  the  passing  of  many  of  our 
rare  plants  with  the  peat  bogs  which  furnished  them 
with  a  suitable  habitat. 

Since  the  coast  line  of  the  island  includes  exposed 
surf-beaten  beaches,  quiet  harbors,  and  salt  marshes, 
we  naturally  expect  a  large  variety  of  marine  plants. 
Besides  the  algae,  which  form  a  distinct  branch  of 
botany,  we  find  many  beach  plants,  as  dusty  miller 


The  Nantucket  Flora  251 

(Artemisia  Stelleriana  Bess.),  seaside  spurge  {Euphorbia 
polygonifolia  L.),  saltwort  {Salsola  Kali  L.),  and  beach 
pea  [Lathyriis  maritimus  (L.)  Bigel.].  In  the  salt 
marshes  we  find  the  marsh  rosemary  [Limonium  Caro- 
linianum  (Walt.),  Britton],  the  samphires  {Salicornia 
mucronata  Bigel.,  S.  europcEa  L.,  and  6".  amhigua  Michx.), 
which  turn  bright  red  in  the  fall,  and  add  their  ruddy- 
tinge  to  the  yellows  and  browns  of  the  autumn  marshes. 
The  hibiscus  {Hibiscus  Moscheutos  L.)  opens  its  great 
rose-colored  blossoms  on  the  borders  of  brackish  ponds, 
and  the  rare  centaury  [Centaurium  spicatum  (L.)  Fer- 
nald]  grows  in  similar  localities. 

Every  year,  new  plants  are  appearing  among  our 
Nantucket  flora.  IMany  are  introduced  with  grass 
and  vegetable  seeds  and  appear  as  weeds  in  the  grain 
fields  and  gardens,  while  others  occur  as  ballast  weeds 
on  the  wharves  and  waste  places.  The  cow  herb 
{Saponaria  Vaccaria  L.)  is  one  of  these  recent  importa- 
tions, and  has  been  noted  growing  in  fields  of  oats.  It 
has  pink  flowers,  and  is  a  near  relative  of  the  bouncing 
Bet  or  bunch  of  keys  {Saponaria  officinalis  L.)  so 
common  in  the  lanes  and  streets  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
town.  The  Deptford  pink  {Dianthus  Armaria  L.)  is 
also  a  recent  introduction,  as  are  several  other  members 
of  the  pink  family.  Among  ballast  weeds  may  be 
noted  the  purple  thorn  apple  {Datura  Tatula  L.)  found 
on  one  of  the  old  wharves,  and  the  hemp  {Cannabis 
sativa  L.) ,  of  which  Mrs.  Owen  mentions  two  plants,  is 
now  well  established  on  the  "dump"  west  of  the  town. 
Many  garden  escapes  have  strayed  far  beyond  the 
town  limits,  among  them  the  horehound  {Alarrubium 
vulgare  L.),  catnip  {Nepcta  Cataria  L.),  motherwort 
Leonurus  Cardiaca  L.),  spearmint  {Mentliaspicata  L.), 
and  peppermint  {Mentha  piperita  L.).     These  were  all 


252  Nantucket 

introduced  from  Europe  by  the  early  settlers  because 
of  their  medicinal  qualities.  Yarrow  {Achillea  Millie- 
joliiim  L.),  tansy  {Tanacetum  vulgare  L.),  and  boneset 
{Eiipatorium  perfoliatum  L.)  doubtless  recall  to  the 
minds  of  many  dried  bunches  of  herbs  hanging  in  rows 
from  beams  in  the  attic,  ready  to  be  brewed  into  bitter 
teas  for  some  unlucky  victim. 

The  inhabitants  of  Nantucket  very  early  deplored 
the  scarcity  of  wood  on  the  island,  and  various  attempts 
at  reforestation  have  been  made.  To  these  attempts 
we  owe  the  most  noted  of  all  our  Nantucket  plants,  the 
heathers.  Among  imported  Scotch  pines  at  Miacomet 
we  find  the  heather,  or  ling,  [Calhina  vulgaris  (L). 
Hull,],  and  a  European  heath  {Erica  Tetralix  L.).  For 
many  years,  the  locality  of  these  two  plants  was  a 
jealously  guarded  secret,  and  as  a  consequence  they 
have  been  protected  from  ruthless  picking,  and,  at 
present,  appear  to  be  thoroughly  well  established. 
New  clumps  are  found  each  year,  the  plants  gradually 
spreading  in  an  easterly  direction,  probably  because 
the  seed  is  carried  in  that  direction  by  the  westerly 
winds  prevailing  in  summer.  Unless,  as  hardly  seems 
probable,  the  blossoms  are  picked  recklessly,  or  the 
plants  uprooted,  the  heather  will  remain  a  permanent 
ornament  to  our  island  flora.  A  third  species,  the 
rarest  of  all,  the  bell  heather  {Erica  cinerea  L.),  is  found 
but  in  one  place,  the  exact  locality  being  known  only 
to  a  favored  few. 

This  hasty  survey  of  the  Nantucket  flora  indi- 
cates a  few  of  the  factors  which  have  operated  in  making 
it  unique  and  of  particular  interest  to  lovers  of  wild 
flowers.  The  problems  presented  here  are  fascinating, 
and  will  repay  most  careful  investigation.  Of  late 
years,  there  has  seemed  to  be  an  awakening  of  interest 


The  Nantucket  Flora  253 

in  the  subject  of  botany,  and  this  science,  instead  of, 
as  formerly,  being  a  matter  of  dry  technicalities  and 
analytical  keys,  has,  through  the  various  wild-fiowers 
books  published  in  recent  years,  become  of  popular 
interest.  Surely,  to  those  interested  in  "out  of  doors," 
there  can  be  no  more  delightful  or  healthful  way  of 
spending  part  of  a  vacation  than  in  making  the  acquaint- 
ance of  new  floral  friends  on  what  has  been  called  "a 
botanist's  paradise." 

The  following  list  of  Nantucket  plants  has  been  com- 
piled from  various  sources.  Many  specimens  named 
are  in  the  herbarium  of  the  writer,  others  are  in  that  of 
the  Nantucket  Maria  Mitchell  Association,  while  still 
others  are  plants  which  have  been  reported  by  various 
botanists.  A  Catalogue  of  Plants  Growing  without  Cul- 
tivation in  the  County  of  Nantucket,  Mass.,  published  in 
1888,  b}^  Maria  L.  Owen,  and  "  The  Ferns  and  Flowering 
Plants  of  Nantucket,"  by  Eugene  P.  Bicknell,  now  ap- 
pearing in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey  Botanical  Club,  give 
detailed  information  regarding  the  less  common  plants. 

While  there  are  doubtless  errors,  and  certainly  many 
omissions  in  this  list,  it  may  be  of  interest  to  botanists, 
and  an  aid  in  compiling  a  more  complete  and  accurate 
list  of  the  Nantucket  plants. 

Nantucket  Flora 

Aspidium.  Dicksonia 

Boottii  Tuckerm.  punctilobula  (Michx.)  Gray 

cristatum  (L.)  Sw.  Onoclea 
noveboracense  (L.)  Sw.  sensibilis  L. 

simulatum  Davenp.  Polypodium 
spinulosum  (O.  F.  MuUer)  Sw.  vulgare  L. 

var.     intermedium     (Muhl.)  Pteris 

D.  C.  Eaton.  aquilina  L. 

Thelypteris  (L.)  Sw.  var.  pseudocaudata  Clute 

Asplenium  Woodwardia 

Filix-femina  (L.)  Bernh.  areolata  (L.)  Moore 


254 


Nantucket 


Woodwardia — Continued 

virginica  (L.)  Sm. 
Osmunda 

cinnamomea  L. 

Claytoniana  L. 

rcgalis  L. 
Botrychium 

obliquum     var.     dissectum 
(Spreng.)  Clute 

ternatum  (Thunb.)  Sw., 

var.  intermedium  D.  C.  Eaton 
Ophioglossum 

vulgatum  L. 
Equisetum 

arvense  L. 

fluviatile  L. 
Lycopodium 

alopecuroides  L. 

var.  flabelliforme  Fernald 

inundatum  L. 

var.  Bigelovii  Tuckerm. 
var.    dendroideum     (Michx.) 
D.  C.  Eaton 

tristachyum  Pursh 
Isoetes 

echinospora  Dur.,  var.  Eraunii. 
Juniperus 

virginiana  L. 
Larix 

decidua  Mill. 
Pinus 

rigida  Mill. 

sylvestris  L. 
Typha 

angustifolia  L. 

latifolia  L. 
Sparganium 

americanum  Nutt. 

var.   androcladum  (Engeim.) 
Fernald  &  Eames 

eurycarpum  Engeim. 
Najas 

flexilis  (Willd.)  Rostk.  &  Schmidt 

guadalupensis  (Spreng.)  Morong 


Potamogeton 

epihydrus  Raf. 

hybridus  Michx. 

mysticus  Alorong 

Oakesianus  Robbins 

pectinatus  L. 

perfoliatus  L. 

pulcher  Tuckerm. 

pusillus  L. 
Ruppia 

maritima  L. 
Zannichellia 

palustris  L. 
Zostera 

marina  L. 
Triglochin 

maritima  L. 
Alisma 

Plantago-aquatica  L. 
Sagittaria 

Engelmanniana  J.  G.  Sm. 

latifolia  Willd. 
Vallisneria 

spiralis  L. 
Agropyron 

repens  (L.)  Beauv. 
Agrostis 

alba  L. 

var.  aristata  Gray 
var.  maritima  (Lam.)   G.   F. 
W.  Mey. 

hyemalis  (Walt.)  BSP. 

perennans  (Walt.)  Tuckerm. 
var.  alata   (Pursh)   Hitchc. 
Aird 

caryophyllea  L. 
Aleopecurus 

geniculatus  L. 

pratensis  L. 
Ammophila 

arenaria  (L.)  Link. 
Andropogon 

f  urcatus  Muhl. 

glomeratus  (Walt.)  BSP. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


255 


Andropogon — Continued 

scoparius  Michx. 

var.  littoralis  (Nash)   Hitchc. 

virginicus  L. 
Anthoxanthum 

odoratum  L. 
Aristida 

dichotoma  Michx, 

gracilis  Ell. 

purpurascens  Poir. 
Avena 

sativa  L. 
Bromus 

commutatus  Schrad. 

hordeaceus  L. 

racemosus  L, 

secalinus  L. 

sterilis  L. 

tectorum  L. 
Calamagrostis 

canadensis  (Michx.)  Beauv. 

cinnoides  (Muhl.)  Barton 
Cenchrus 

tribuloides  L. 
Dactylis 

glomerata  L. 
Danthonia 

compressa  Aust. 

spicata  (L.)  Beauv. 
Deschampsia 

flexuosa  (L.)  Trin. 
Digitaria 

filiformis  (L.)  Koeler 

humifusa  Pers. 

sanguinalis  (L.)  Scop. 
Distichlis 

spicata  (L.)  Greene 
Echinochloa 

crusgalli  (L.)  Beauv. 
Elymus 

virginicus  L. 
Eragrostis 

megastachya  (Koeler)  Link. 

pectinacea  (Michx.)  Steud. 


var.  spectabills  Gray 

pilosa  (L.)  Beauv. 
Festuca 

elatior  L. 

myurus  L. 

octoflora  Walt. 

ovina  L. 

var.  capillata  (Lam.)  Hack, 
var  duriuscula  (L.)  Koch 

rubra  L. 
Glyceria 

acutiflora  Torr. 

canadensis  (Michx.)  Trin. 

grandis  Wats. 

nervata  (Willd.)  Trin. 

pallida  (Torr.)  Trin. 

septentrionalis  Hitchc. 
Hierochloe 

odorata  (L.)  Walilenb. 
Holcus 

lanatus  L. 
Hordeum 

jubatum  L. 
Leersia 

oryzoides  (L.)  Sw. 
Leptochloa 

fascicularis  (Lam.)  Gray 
Lolium 

multiflorum  Lam. 

perenne  L. 
Muhlenbergia 

mexicana  (L.)  Trin. 
Panicum 

agrostoides  Spreng. 

Bicknellii  Nash 

capillare  L. 

clandestinum  L. 

columbianum  Scribn. 

depauperatum  Muhl. 

dichotomiflorum  Michx. 

dichotomum  L. 

linearifolium  Scribn. 

mattamuskeetense  Ashe 

meridionale  Ashe 


256 


Nantucket 


Panicum —  Cont  inued 

miliaceum  L. 

Scribnerianum  Nash 

sphaerocarpon  Ell. 

tennesscense  Ashe 

villosissimum  Nash 

virgatum  L. 
Paspalum 

Miihlenbergii  Nash 

psammophilum  Nash 

setaceum  Michx. 
Phalaris 

canariensis  L. 
Phleum 

pratense  L. 
Phragmites 

communis  Trin. 
Poa 

annua  L. 

compressa  L. 

pratensis  L. 

triflora  Gilib. 

trivialis  L. 
Puccinellia 

distans  (L.)  Pari. 
Setaria 

glauca  (L.)  Beauv. 

imberbis  R.  &  S. 

italica  (L.)  Beauv. 

viridis  (L.)  Beauv. 
Sorghastrum 

nutans  (L.)  Nash 
Spartina 

cynosuroides  (L.)  Roth 

var.  alterniflora  (Loisel)  Merr. 
var.  pilosa  Merr. 

patens  (Ait.)  Muhl. 

var.  juncea  (Michx.)  Hitchc. 
Sphenopholis 

palustris  (Michx.)  Scribn. 
Sporobolus 

vaginiflorus  (Torr.)  Wood 
Stipa 

avenacea  L. 


Tridens 

flavus  (L.)  Hitchc. 
Triplasis 

purpurea  (Walt.)  Chapm. 
Zizania 

aquatica  L. 
Carex 

albolutescens  Schwein. 
bullata  Schkuhr. 

var.  Greenii  (Boeckl.)  Fernald 
canescens  L. 

var.  subloliacea  Laestad. 

var.  disjuncta  Fernald 
comosa  Boott. 
conoidea  Schkuhr. 

var.     gynandra     (Schwein.) 
Schwein.  &  Torr. 

var.  Rudgei  Bailey. 
Goodenowii  J.  Gray 
hirta  L. 

hormathodes  Fernald 
intumescens  Rudge 
lanuginosa  Michx. 
leptalea  Wahlenb. 
lupulina  Muhl. 

var.  pedunculata  Dewey 
lurida  Wahlenb. 
Muhlenbergii  Schkuhr. 
muricata  L. 
pallescens  L. 
pennsylvanica  Lam. 

var.  utriculata  (Boott.)  Bailey 

var.    capillacea  (Bailey)  Fer- 
nald 
scoparia  Schkuhr. 
seor'=a  E.  C.  Howe. 

var.  ambigua  (Barratt)  Fer- 
nald 
silicea  Onlcy. 

var.  cephalantha  (Bailey)  Fer- 
nald 
sterilis  Willd. 
stipata  Muhl. 
straminea  Willd. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


257 


Cares — Continued 

var.  echinodes  Fernald 

stricta  Lam. 

umbellata  Schkuhr. 
var.  tonsa  Fernald 

varia  Muhl. 

vestita  Willd. 

virescens  Muhl. 

vulpinoidea  Michx, 
Cladium 

mariscoides  (Muhl.)  Torr. 
Cyperus 

dentatus  Torr. 

diandrus  Torr. 

esculentus  L. 

ferax  Rich. 

filiculmis  Vahl. 

Grayi  Torr. 

Nuttallii  Eddy 

rivularis  Kunth. 

strigosus  L. 

var.  capitatus  Boeckl. 
var.  compositus  Britton 
Dulichium 

arundinaceum  (L.)  Britton 
Eleocharis 

acicularis  (L.)  R.  &  S. 

obtusa  (Willd.)  Schultes 

palustris  (L.)  R.  &  S. 

var.  glaucescens  (Willd.)  Gray 

rostellata  Torr. 

tenuis  (Willd.)  Schultes 

tricostata  Torr. 
Eriophorum 

tenellum  Nutt. 

virginicum  L. 

viridi-carinatum  (Engelm,),  Fer- 
nald 
Rynchospora 

alba  (L).  Vahl. 

glomerata  (L.)  Vahl. 

Torreyana  Gray 
Scirpus 

americanus  Pers. 


campestris  Britton 

cyperinus  (L.)  Kunth. 

nanus  Spreng. 

occidentalis  (Wats.)  Chase 

pedicellatus  Fernald 

robustus  Pursh 

rubrotinctus  Fernald 

validus  Vahl. 
Scleria 

triglomerata  Michx. 
Acorus 

Calamus  L. 
Arisaema 

triphyllum  (L.)  Schott. 
Lemna 

minor  L. 

trisulca  L. 
Eriocaulon 

articulatum  (Huds.)  Morong 
Xyris 

caroliniana  Walt. 

flexuosa  Muhl. 
Tradescantia 

virginiana  L. 
Heteranthera 

dubia  (Jacq.)  MacM. 
Pontederia 

cordata  L. 
Juncus 

acuminatus  Michx. 

aristulatus  Michx. 

articulatus  L. 

balticus  Willd.,     var.     littoralis 
Engelm. 

bufonius  L. 

canadensis  J.  Gay 

dichotomus  Ell. 

effusus  L. 

var.    compactus    Lejeune    & 
Courtois 

Gerardi  Loisel. 

Greenei  Oakes  &  Tuckerm. 

marginatus  Rostk. 

militaris  Bigel. 


258 


Nantucket 


Juncus — Continued 

pelocarpus  Mey 

tenuis  Willd. 

var.  anthelatus  Wiegand 
Luzula 

var.      multiflora     ( E  h  r  h  . ) 
Celak. 
Aletris 

farinosa  L. 
Asparagus 

officinalis  L. 
Hemerocallis 

fulva  L. 
Lilium 

philadelphicum  L. 

superbum  L. 
Maianthemum 

canadense  Desf. 
Medeola 

virginiana  L. 
Muscari 

botryoides  (L.)  Mill 
Oakesia 

sessilifolia  (L.)  Wats. 
Omithogalum 

umbellatum  L. 
Polygonatum 

biflorum  (Walt.)  Ell. 
Smilacina 

racemosa  (L.)  Desf. 

stellata  (L.)  Desf. 
Smilax 

Bona-nox  L. 

glauca  Walt. 

herbacea  L. 

rotundifolia  L. 

var.   quadrangularis    (Muhl.) 
Wood 
Hypoxis 

hirsuta  (L.)  Coville 
Iris 

prismatica  Pursh 

pseudacorus  L. 

versicolor  L. 


Sisyrinchium 

arenicola  Bicknell 

atlanticum  Bicknell 

gramineum  Curtis 

graminoides. 
Arethusa 

bulbosa  L. 
Calopogon 

pulchellus  Sw.  R.  Br. 
Corallorrhiza 

maculata  Raf. 
Cypripedium 

acaule  Ait. 
Habenaria 

blephariglottis  (Willd.)  Torr. 

ciliaris  (L.)  R.  Br. 

clavellata  (Michx.)  Spreng. 

lacera  (Michx.)  R.  Br. 
Liparis 

Loeselii  (L.)  Richard 
Microstylis 

unifolia  (Michx.)  BSP. 
Pogonia 

ophioglossoides  (L.)  Ker 
Spiranthes 

Beckii  Lindl. 

cernua  (L.)  Richard 

gracilis  (Bigel.)  Beck 
Populus 

alba  L. 

candicans  Ait. 

grandidentata  Michx. 

tremuloides  Michx. 
Salix 

alba  L. 

babylonica  L. 

cordata  Muhl. 

discolor  Muhl. 

var.    eriocephala    (Michx.) 
Anders 

fragilis  L. 

humilis  Marsh 

pentandra  L. 

petiolaris  Sm. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


259 


Salix — Continued 

purpurea  L. 

rostrata  Richards 

sericea  Marsh 

tristis  Ait. 

viminaHs  L. 
Myrica 

asplenifolia  L. 

caroHnensis  Mill. 

Gale  L. 
Carya 

alba  (L.)  K.  Koch 

glabra  (Mill.)  Spach. 

microcarpa  Nutt. 
Alnus 

incana  (L.)  Moench. 
Betula 

populifolia  Marsh 
Carpinus 

caroliniana  Walt. 
Corylus 

americana  Walt. 

rostrata  Ait. 
Fagus 

grandifolia  Ehrh. 
Quercus 

alba  L. 

coccinea  Muench. 

falcata  Michx. 

ilicifolia  Wang. 

prinoides  Willd. 

stellata  Wang. 

velutina  Lam. 
Boehmeria 

cylindrica  (L.)  Sw. 
var.  scabra  Porter 
Cannabis 

sativa  L. 
Humulus 

japonicus  Sieb.  &  Zucc. 

Lupulus  L. 
Parietaria 

pennsylvanica  Muhl. 


Pilea 

pumila  (L.)  Gray 
Ulmus 

americana  L. 
Urtica 

Lyallii  Wats. 

urens  L. 
Comandra 

umbellata  (L.)  Nutt. 
Fagopyrum 

esculentum  Moench. 
Polygonella 

articulata  (L.)  Meisn. 
Polygonum 

acre  HBK. 

amphibium  L. 

aviculare  L. 

var.  angustissimum  Meisn. 
var.  vegetum  Ledeb. 

Convolvulus  L. 

cuspidatum  Sieb.  &  Zucc. 

dumetorum  L. 

Hydropiper  L. 

hydropiperoides  Michx. 

lapathifolium  L. 

maritimum  L. 

pennsylvanicum  L. 

Persicaria  L. 

prolificum  (Small)  Robinson 
forma  atlanticum  Robinson 

sagittatum  L. 

setaceum  Baldw. 

tomentosum  Schrank. 
Rumex 

Acetosella  L. 

Britannica  L. 

crispus  L. 

obtusifolius  L. 

pallidus  Bigel. 

persicarioides  L. 
Atriplex 

arenaria  Nutt. 

patula. 

var.  hastata  (L.)  Gray 


26o 


Nantucket 


Chenopodium 

album  L. 

var.  viride  (L.)  Moq. 

ambrosioides  L. 

glaucum  L. 

hybridum  L. 

murale  L. 

polyspermum  L. 

rubrum  L. 
Salicomla 

ambigua  Michx. 

europasa  L. 

mucronata  Bigel. 
Salsola 

KaUL. 

var.  caroliniana  (Walt.)  Nutt. 
Suaeda 

linearis  (Ell.)  Moq. 

maritima  (L.)  Dumort 
Amaranthus 

blitoides  Wats. 

graecizans  L. 

hybridus  L. 

paniculatus  L. 

pumilus  Raf. 

retroflexus  L. 
Phytolacca 

decandra  L. 
Scleranthus 

annuus  L. 
MoUugo 

verticillata  L. 
Agrostemma 

Githago  L. 
Arenaria 

lateriflora  L. 

peploides  L. 

serpyllifolia  L. 
Cerastium 

arvense  L. 

semidecandrum  L. 

vulgatum  L. 
Dianthus 

Armeria  L. 


Lychnis 

alba  Mill. 

dioica  L. 
Sagina 

procumbens  L. 
Saponaria 

officinalis  L. 

Vaccaria  L. 
Silene 

antirrhina  L. 

Armeria  L. 

dichotoma  Ehrh. 

latifolia  (Mill.)Britton  &  Rendle 
Spergula 

arvensis  L. 

sativa  Boenn. 
Spergularia 

canadensis  (Pers.)  Don. 

marina  (L.)  Griseb. 

rubra  (L.)  J.  &.  C.  Presl. 
Stellaria 

graminea  L. 

media  (L.)  Cyrill. 
Portulaca 

oleracea  L. 
Ceratophyllum 

demersum  L. 
Brasenia 

Schreberi  Gmel. 
Castalia 

odorata     (Ait.)     Woodville     & 
Wood 
Nymphaea 

advena  Ait. 
Actaea 

rubra  (Ait.)  WiUd. 
Anemone 

quinquefolia  L. 
Aquilegia 

canadensis  L. 
Coptis 

trifolia  (L.)  Salisb. 
Ranunculus 

acris  L. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


261 


Ranunculus — Continued 

bulbosus  L. 

Cymbalaria  Pursh 

delphinifolius  Torr. 

laxicaulis  (T.  &  G.)  Darby 

repens  L. 
Thalictrum 

poh'gamum  Muhl. 

revolutum  DC. 
Sassafras 

varifolium  (Salisb.)  Ktze. 
Argemone 

mexicana  L. 
Chelidonium 

majus  L. 
Alyssum 

alyssoides  L. 
Barbarea 

vulgaris  R.  Br. 
Brassica 

arvensis  (L.)  Ktze. 

campestris  L. 

juncea  (L.)  Cosson 

Napus  L. 

nigra  (L.)  Koch 

Rapa  L. 
Cakile 

edentula  (Bigel.)  Hook. 
Capsella 

Bursa-pastoris  (L.)  Medic. 
Cardamine 

parviflora  L. 

pennsylvanica  Muhl. 
Conringia 

orientaHs  (L.)  Dumort 
Coronopus 

didymus  (L.)  Sm. 
Diplotaxis 

muralis  (L.)  DC. 
Draba 

verna  L. 
Erysimum 

cheiranthoides  L. 


Lepidium 

apetalum  Willd. 

campestre  (L.)  R.  Br. 

virginicum  L. 
Lobularia 

maritima  (L.)  Desv. 
Radicula 

Armoracia  (L.)  Robinson 

Nasturtium-aquaticum  (L.) 

Britton 

palustris  (L.)  Moench. 

sylvestris  (L.)  Druce 
Raphanus 

Raphanistrum  L. 

sativus  L. 
Sisjrmbrium 

altissimum  L. 

officinale 
var.  leiocarpum  DC. 
Thlaspi 

arvense  L. 
Reseda 

lutea  L. 
Sarracenia 

purpurea  L. 
Drosera 

filiformis  Raf. 

longifolia  L. 

rotundifolia  L. 
Sedum 

acre  L. 

purpureum  Tausch. 
Tillaea 

aquatica  L. 

Vaillantii  Willd. 
Ribes 

oxyacanthoides  L. 
Agrimonia 

gryposepala  Wallr. 
Amelanchler 

canadensis  (L.)  Medic. 

oblongifolia  (T.  &  G.)  Roem. 
Crataegus 

Crus-galli  L. 


262 


Nantucket 


Crataegus — Continued 

macrosperma  Ashe. 

pruninosa  (Wendl.)  C.  Koch 
Fragaria 

vesca  L. 

virginiana  Duchesne 
Geiun 

canadense  Jacq. 
Potentilla 

Anserina  L. 

argentea  L. 

canadensis  L. 

var.  simplex  (Michx.)  T.  &  G. 

monspeliensis  L. 

pennsylvanica  L. 

pumila  Poir. 
Prunus 

americana  Marsh 

avium  L. 

Cerasus  L. 

maritima  Wang. 

Persica  (L.)  Stokes 

serotina  Ehrh. 
Pyrus 

arbutifolia  (L.)  L.  f. 

var.    atropurpurea    (Britton) 
Robinson 

communis  L. 

Malus  L. 
Rosa 

Carolina  L. 

cinnamomea  L. 

rubiginosa  L. 

virginiana  Mill. 
Rubus 

allegheniensis  Porter 

argutus  Link. 

frondosus  BigeL 

hispidus  L. 

var.    aculeatissimus    (C.    A. 
Mey.)  Kegel  &  Tiling 

nigricans  Rydb. 

occidentalis  L. 
triflorus  Richards 


villosus  Ait. 

var.  humifusus  T.  &.  G. 
Spiraea 

latifolia  Borkh. 

tomentosa  L. 
Amphicarpa 

monoica  (L.)  Ell. 
Apios 

tuberosa  Moench. 
Baptisia 

tinctoria  (L.)  R.  Br. 
Cassia 

Chamaecrista  L. 
Coronilla 

varia  L. 
Cytisus 

scoparius  (L.)  Link. 
Desmodium 

obtusum  (Muhl.)  DC. 

sessilifolium  (Torr.)  T.  &  G. 
Lathyrus 

maritimus  (L.)  Bigel. 

palustris  L. 

var.  linearifolius  Ser. 
Lespedeza 

Brittonii  Bicknell 

capitata  Michx. 

hirta  (L.)  Hornem. 

procumbens  Michx. 

Stuvei  Nutt. 

violacea  (L.)  Pers. 

virginica  (L.)  Britton 
Medicago 

lupuUna  L. 

sativa  L. 
Melilotus 

alba  Desr. 

officinalis  (L.)  Lam. 
Tephrosia 

virginiana  (L.)  Pers. 
Trifolium 

agrarium  L. 

arvense  L. 

dubium  Sibth. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


263 


Trif  olium —  Continued 

hybridum  L. 

incarnatum  L. 

pratense  L. 

procumbens  L. 

repens  L. 
Ulex 

europaeus  L. 
Vicia 

americana  Muhl. 

angustifolia  (L.)  Reichard 

sativa  L. 

tetrasperma  (L.)  Moench. 
Linum 

sulcatum  Riddell 

usitatissimum  L. 

virginianum  L. 
Oxalis 

corniculata  L. 

striata  L. 
Erodium 

cicutarium  (L.)  L'Her. 
Geranium 

carolinianum  L, 

maculatum  L. 

pusillum  Burm.  f. 

Robertianum  L. 
Polygala 

cruciata  L. 

polygama  Walt. 

sanguinea  L. 

verticillata  L. 
Euphorbia 

Cyparissias  L. 

maculata  L. 

polygonifolia  L. 

Preslii  Guss. 
Callitriche 

heterophylla  Pursh 

palustris  L, 
Corema 

Conradii  Torr. 
Rhus 

copallina  L. 


glabra  L. 

Toxicodendron  L. 

Vernix  L. 
Dex 

glabra  (L.)  Gray 

opaca  Ait. 

verticillata  (L.)  Gray 
Acer 

rubrum  L. 
Impatiens 

biflora  Walt. 
Psedera 

quinquefolia  (L.)  Greene 

vitacea  (Knerr.)  Greene 
Vitis 

sestivalis  Michx. 

labrusca  L. 
Hibiscus 

Moscheutos  L. 
Malva 

moschata  L. 

rotundifolia  L. 

verticillata  L. 
Ascyrum 

hypericoides  L. 
Hypericum 

adpressum,  Bart. 

boreale  (Britten)  Bicknell 

canadense  L. 

gentianoides  (L.)  BSP. 

mutilum  L. 

perforatum  L. 

punctatum  Lam. 

virginicum  L. 
Elatine 

americana  (Pursh)  Arn. 
Helianthemimi 

canadense  (L.?)  Michx. 
Hudsonia 

ericoides  L. 

tomentosa  Nutt. 
Lechea 

Leggettii  Britten  &  Hollick 

maritima  Leggett. 


264 


Nantucket 


Lechea — Continued 

minor  L. 

villosa  Ell. 
Viola 

blanda  Willd. 

cucullata  Ait. 

fimbriatula  Sm. 

lanceolata  L. 

palmata  L. 

pedata  L. 

sagittata  Ait. 
Opuntia 

Rafinesquii  Engelm. 

vulgaris  Mill. 
Decodon 

verticillatus  (L.)  Ell. 
Lythrum 

Salicaria  L. 
Rhexia 

virginica  L. 
Circaea 

lutetiana  L. 
Epilobium 

angustifolium  L. 

coloratum  Muhl. 

densum  Raf. 

hirsutum  L. 

palustre  L. 
Ludvigia 

palustris  (L.)  EIL 
CEnothera 

biennis  L. 

fruticosa  L. 

muricata  L. 

pumila  L. 
Myriophyllum 

humile  (Raf.)  Morong 

tenellura  Bigel. 
Proserpinaca 

palustris  L. 
Aralia 

nudicaulis  L. 
^thusa 

Cynapium  L. 


Conium 

maculatum  L. 
Daucus 

Carota  L, 
Heracleum 

lanatum  Michx. 
Hydrocotyle 

umbellata  L. 
Ligusticum 

scothicum  L. 
Ptilimnium 

capillaceum  (Michx.)  Raf. 
Slum 

cicutaefolium  Schrank. 
Cornus 

canadensis  L. 

florida  L. 
Nyssa 

sylvatica  Marsh 
Arctostaphylos 

Uva-ursi  (L.)  Spreng. 
Calluna 

vulgaris  (L.)  Hull 
Chamaedaphne 

calyculata  (L.)  Moench. 
Chimaphila 

maculata  (L.)  Pursh 

umbellata  (L.)  Nutt. 
Chiogenes 

hispid ula  (L.)  T.  &.  G. 
Clethra 

alnifolia  L. 
Epigaea 

repens  L. 
Erica 

cinerea  L. 

Tetralix  L. 
Gaultheria 

procumbens  L. 
Gaylussacia 

baccata  (Wang.)  C.  Koch 

dumosa  (Andr.)  T.  &.  G. 

frondosa  (L.)  T.  &.  G. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


265 


Kalmia 

angustifolia  L. 

latifolia  L. 
Lyonia 

mariana  (L.)  D.  Don 
Monotropa 

Hypopitys  L. 

uniflora  L. 
Pyrola 

americana  Sweet 

chlorantha  Sw. 
Rhododendron 

viscosum  (L.)  Torr. 
Vaccinium 

atrococcum  (Gray)  Heller 

corymbosum  L. 

macrocarpon  Ait. 

Oxycoccos  L. 

pennsylvanicum  Lam. 

vacillans  Kalm 
Limonium 

carolinianum  (Walt.)  Britten 
Anagallis 

arvensis  L. 
Glaux 

maritima  L. 
var.  obtusifolia  Fernald 
Lysimachia 

Nummularia  L. 

quadrifolia  L. 

terrestris  (L.)  BSP. 

vulgaris  L. 
Samolus 

floribundus  HBK. 
Trientalis 

americana  (Pars.)  Pursh 
Syringa 

vulgaris  L. 
Bartonia 

virginica  (L.)  BSP. 
Centaurium 

spicatum  (L.)  Fernald 
Menyanthes 

trifoliata  L. 


Nymphoides 

lacunosum  (Vent.)  Fernald 
Sabbatia 

dodecandra  (L.)  BSP. 

gracilis  (Michx.)  Salisb. 
Apocynum 

androsaemifolium  L. 

cannabinum  L. 

medium  Greene 
Asclepias 

amplexicaulis  Sm. 

incarnata 

var.  pulchra  (Ehrh.)  Pers. 

phytolaccoides  Pursh 

syriaca  L. 

tuberosa  L. 
Convolvulus 

arvensis  L. 

sepium  L. 
var.  pubescens  (Gray)  Fernald 
Cuscuta 

Gronovii  Willd. 
Echium 

vulgare  L. 
Lithospermum 

arvense  L. 
Mertensia 

maritima  (L.)  S.  F.  Gray 
Myosotis 

Laxa  Lehm. 
Onosmodium 

virginianum  (L.)  A.  DC. 
Verbena 

hastata  L. 

urticsefolia  L. 
Galeopsis 

Ladanum  L. 

Tetrahit  L.  ' 
Hedeoma 

pulegioides  (L.)  Pers. 
Lamium 

amplexicaule  L. 
Leonurus 

Cardiaca  L. 


266 


Nantucket 


Lycopus 

amcricanus  ?.Iuhl. 

virginicus  L. 
Marrubium 

vulgare  L. 
Mentha 

arvensis 
var.   canadensis  (L.)  Briquet 

crispa  L. 

gen  tills  L. 

piperita  L. 

spicata  L. 
Nepeta 

Cataria  L. 

hederacea  (L.)  Trevisan. 
Prunella 

vulgaris  L. 
Pycnanthemum 

flexuosum  (Walt.)  BSP. 

incanum  (L.)  Michx. 

virginianum     (L.)     Durand    & 
Jackson 
Scutellaria 

galericulata  L. 

lateriflora  L. 
Stachys 

hyssopifolia  Michx. 
Teucrium 

canadense  L. 
Trichostema 

dichotomum  L. 
Datura 

Stramonium  L. 

Tatula  L. 
Lycium 

halimifolium  Mill. 
Nicandra 

Physalodes  (L.)  Pers. 
Phy  sails 

lanceolata  Michx. 
Solanum 

Dulcamara  L. 
nigrum  L. 


Gerardia 

maritima  Raf. 

paupercula  (Gray)  Britton 

purpurea  L. 

tenuifolia  Vahl. 
Gratiola 

aurea  Muhl. 
Ilysanthes 

anagallidea    (Michx.)  Robinson 

dubia  (L.)  Barnhart 
Limosella 

Aquatica     L.,    var.    tenuifolia 

(Wolf.)    Pers. 
Linaria 

canadensis  (L.)  Dumont 

vulgaris  Hill 
Melampyrum 

lineare  Lam. 
Pedicularis 

canadensis  L. 
Schwalbea 

americana  L. 
Scrophularia 

marilandica  L. 
Verbascum 

Blattaria  L. 

Thapsus  L. 
Veronica 

arvensis  L. 
Utricularia 

clandestina  Nutt. 

cleistogama  (Gray)  Britton 

intermedia  Hayne 

subulata  L. 

vulgaris     L.,     var.     americana 
Gray 
Plantago 

aristata  Michx. 

decipiens  Bameoud 

lanceolata  L. 

major  L. 

Rugclii  Dene. 
Cephalanthus 

occidentalis  L. 


The  Nantucket  Flora 


267 


Galium 

circaezans  Michx. 

Claytoni  Michx. 

pilosum  Ait. 

trifidum  L. 

triflorum  Michx. 
Houstonia 

cserulea  L. 

longifolia  Gaertn. 
Mitchella 

repens  L. 
Linnaea 

borealis     L.,     var.     americana 
(Forbes)  Rehder 
Sambucus 

canadensis  L. 
Viburnum 

alnifolium  Marsh. 

dentatum  L. 

venosum  Britton 
Echinocystis 

lobata  (Michx.)  T.  &.  G. 
Sicyos 

angulatus  L. 
Campanula 

rapunculoides  L. 
Specularia 

perfoliata  (L.)  A.  DC. 
Lobelia 

cardinalis  L. 

inflata  L. 
Achillea 

Millefolium  L. 
Ambrosia 

artemisiasfolia  L. 
Anaphalis 

margaritacea  (L.)  B.  &.  H. 
Antennaria 

neglecta  Greene 

neodioica  Greene 

plantaginifolia  (L.)  Richards. 
Anthemis 

Cotula  L. 


Arctium 

minus  Bernh. 
Artemisia 

annua  L. 

caudata  Michx. 

Stelleriana  Bess. 

vulgaris  L. 
Aster 

concolor  L. 

dumosus  L. 

ericoides  L. 

laevis  L. 

linariifolius  L. 

multiflorus  Ait. 

novi-belgii  L. 

patens  Ait. 

spectabilis  Ait. 

subulatus  Michx. 

umbellatus  Mill. 

undulatus  L. 
Baccharis 

halimifolia  L. 
Bidens 

cernua  L. 

connata  Muhl. 

frondosa  L. 

tevis  (L.)  BSP. 
Chrysanthemimi 

Leucanthemum  L. 

Parthenium  (L.)  Bernh. 
Chrysopsis 

falcata  (Pursh)  EU. 
Cichorium 

Intybus  L. 
Cirsium 

altissimum  (L.)  Spreng. 

arvense  (L.)  Scop. 

lanceolatum  (L.)  Hill 

pumilum  (Nutt.)  Spreng. 

spinosissimum  (Walt.)  Scop. 
Erechtites 

hieracifolia  (L.)  Raf. 
Erigeron 

annuus  (L.)  Pers. 


268 


Nantucket 


Erigeron — Continued 

canadensis  L. 

philadelphicus  L. 

ramosus  (Walt.)  BSP. 

var.  discoideus(Robbins)RSP. 
Eupatorium 

hyssopifolium  L. 

perfoliatum  L. 
var.  truncatum  Gray 

pubescens  Miihl. 

purpureum  L. 

rotundifolium  L. 

sessilifolium  L. 

verbenaefolium  Michx. 
Galinsoga 

parviflora  Cav. 
Gnaphalium 

polycephalum  Michx. 

purpureum  L. 

uliginosum  L. 
Helianthus 

divaricatus  L. 

strumosus  L. 

tuberosus  L. 
Hieracium 

aurantiacum  L, 

canadense  Michx. 

Gronovii  L. 

venosum  L. 
Inula 

Helenium  L. 
Krigia 

virginica  (L.)  Willd. 
Lactuca 

canadensis  L. 

birsuta  Muhl. 
Leontodon 

autumnalis  L. 
Liatris 

scariosa  Willd. 
Pluchea 

camphorata  (L.)  DC. 


Prenanthes 

alba  L. 

racemosa  Michx. 

serpentaria  Pursh 

trifoliolata  (Cass.)  Femald 
Rudbeckia 

hirta  L. 
Senecio 

vulgaris  L. 
Sericocarpus 

asteroides  (L.)  BSP. 

Hnifolius  (L.)  BSP. 
Solidago 

caesia  L. 

canadensis  L. 

EUiottii  T.  &.  G. 

graminifolia  (L.)  Salisb. 

minor  (Michx.)  Fernald 

neglecta  T.  &  G. 

nemoralis  Ait. 

odora  Ait. 

puberula  Nutt. 

rugosa  Mill. 

sempervirens  L. 

serotina  Ait. 

tenuifolia  Pursh. 

uliginosa  Nutt. 

ulmifoHa  Muhl. 
Sonchus 

arvensis  L. 

asper  (L.)  Hill 

oleraceus  L. 
Tanacetum 

vulgare  L. 

var.  crispum  DC. 
Taraxacum 

erythrospermum  Andrz. 

officinale  Weber 
Tragopogon 

pratensis  L. 
Xanthium 

echinatum  Murr. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

VILLAGES,  DISTRICTS,  ETC. 

The  Indian  Villages.  The  Indians  had  numerous 
villages  scattered  over  the  island,  but,  unfortunately, 
the  sites  of  but  a  few  of  them  have  been  recorded.  One 
of  the  largest  is  known  to  have  been  at  Occawa  or 
Orcawa,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  modem  Plainfield 
farm  near  Siasconset,  and  in  this  immediate  vicinity 
they  had  also  one  of  their  meeting-houses. 

Another  large  Indian  village  was  located  about  the 
northern  extremity  of  Miacomet  Pond,  not  very  far 
from  the  northern  boundary  of  the  shear-pen  district; 
and  in  this  direction  evidences  of  a  large  settlement 
have  been  found  from  time  to  time.  Here  also  was 
one  of  their  meeting-houses. 

On  land  occupying  the  western  side  of  Squam  Pond, 
a  third  village  was  situated,  at  a  place  then  known  as 
Ahapehant,  or  Apapachonsett. 

A  fourth  Indian  village  stood  near  Shawkemo,  south 
of  Abram's  Point,  and  north  of  Shimmo;  and  it  is  be- 
lieved that  there  was  also  an  Indian  burying  ground 
there. 

At  Secacacha,  and  also  at  Peedee,  southeast  of 
Sacacha  Pond,  there  were  two  villages  existing  in  1700, 
but  whether  these  were  fishing  stages  erected  on  pre- 

269 


270  Nantucket 

viously  existing  Indian  villages  or  not,  there  is  no 
evidence  to  show. 

The  last  three  wigwams  on  the  island  were  standing 
at  Squam,  in  1796.  The  last  one  was  on  Rock  Island, 
and  it  was  taken  down  in  1797.  It  was  on  Tristram 
Starbuck's  farm,  and  was  occupied  by  Abigail  Fisher. 

Fishing  Stages.  From  an  early  period  the  maritime 
advantages  of  the  island  induced  the  settlers  to  engage 
in  the  pursuit  of  fishing,  and,  as  they  had  found  cod- 
fishing  remunerative,  they  naturally  engaged  in  it  to 
a  considerable  extent.  Fishing  stages  were,  therefore, 
erected  at  various  points  round  the  shore,  especially 
at  the  south  and  east  sides  of  the  island,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  fishermen.  These  consisted  of  small 
wooden  huts  or  cabins  capable  of  sheltering  a  boat's 
crew,  numbering  usually  five  men.  There  were  several, 
at  Siasconset  on  the  east  coast,  and  near  Weeweder 
Pond  on  the  south.  The  small  village  of  Peedee,  about 
one  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Siasconset,  had  several, 
and  a  large  niimber  were  erected  at  Sacacha  Pond. 
Also  there  was  a  cluster  at  Quidnet,  near  the  head  of 
the  harbor.  They  usually  contained  a  stone  fireplace, 
with  a  brick  chimney  at  the  one  end,  and,  at  the  other, 
two  bedrooms  capable  of  accommodating  four  men. 
Above,  a  small  attic  constituted  an  apartment  fo/  the 
boys.  A  few  of  these  miniature  dwellings  may  still  be 
seen  at  Siasconset. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  location  of  these  fishing-stages 
gave  rise  to  numerous  villages  in  the  course  of  time,  and 
the  most  important  of  these  is  Siasconset. 

Great  Point  (or  Nauma — "Long  Point"),  with  Cos- 
kata,  the  "Haulover,"  and  Coatue,  forms  a  natural 
breakwater,  making  the  harbor  of  Nantucket  almost 
completely  land-locked. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  271 

Great  Point,  or  Nauma,  is  situated  at  the  extreme 
northeast  of  the  island,  at  the  end  of  a  sandy  prolonga- 
tion extending  northwards  from  Coskata.  By  water, 
it  is  about  nine  miles  from  Nantucket.  It  has  a  govern- 
ment lighthouse  upon  it.  The  first  lighthouse  was 
erected  in  1794,  but  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1816. 
The  present  stone  structure  was  built,  probably  during 
the  same  year.     "  It  is  a  favorite  place  for  bluefishing."  ^ 

Coskata  ("at  the  broad  woods")  is  the  section  of 
Long  Point  north  of  Wauwinet  which,  with  the  "Haul- 
over,"  forms  the  eastern  and  northern  sides  of  the 
upper  harbor. 

The  "Haulover" — a  narrow  strip  of  sand  formerly 
dividing  the  harbor  from  the  ocean,  and  constituting 
the  narrowest  part  of  the  island,  still  water  on  one 
side  and  surf  on  the  other — was  so  named  from  the 
fishermen  being  in  the  habit  of  haiiling  their  boats  over 
it  in  order  to  avoid  sailing  round  the  point,  thus  materi- 
ally shortening  their  route.  In  1896,  the  sea,  during 
a  storm,  burst  through  this  sandy  partition,  and  con- 
verted the  peninsula  of  Coatue  and  Great  Point  into 
an  island,  thus  necessitating  the  laying  of  a  cable 
between  it  and  the  Life-saving  Station  at  Coskata. 
The  opening  has  since  closed  up  again. 

Wauwinet  (named  after  the  distinguished  Sachem 
who  ruled  over  this  section  of  the  island  about  the  time 
of  the  arrival  of  the  settlers)  is  a  small  village  beauti- 
fully situated  near  the  "Haiilover,"  at  the  head  of  the 
harbor,  on  the  eastern  aspect  of  the  island,  about  nine 
miles  from  Nantucket  town  (seven  by  water),  and 
about  four  from  Siasconset.  Motor-  and  sail-boats 
ply  regularly    twice  a  day    between   Nantucket   and 

'  Godfrey's  Island  of  Nantucket,  to  which  the  writer  is  under  many 
obligations. 


272  Nantucket 

the  village.  Wauwinet  is  situated  on  the  narrowest 
part  of  the  island — the  harbor  being  on  one  side  and 
the  ocean  on  the  other.  Either  the  finest  surf -bathing 
in  the  ocean,  or  the  most  perfect  still-water  bathing  in 
the  harbor,  may  be  enjoyed  within  a  distance  of  three 
hundred  yards. 

Here  also  is  a  comfortable  hotel,  and  a  beautiful 
view  can  be  obtained  of  the  ocean,  the  harbor,  and  the 
town  of  Nantucket  in  the  distance.  Those  who  delight 
in  scenery  will  be  well  repaid  by  a  visit  to  this  com- 
paratively wild  and  romantic  spot. 

Squam  is  a  tract  of  land  to  the  east  of  Pocomo,  and 
at  the  northeast  part  of  the  island.  At  its  eastern 
boundary,  very  close  to  the  ocean,  is  Squam  Pond. 
This  section  also  contains  Herrecatur  Swamp,  a  locality 
called  Cotackta — where  there  is  a  large  bowlder,  and 
Eat-fire  Spring,  alluded  to  in  Col.  Hart's  novel  Miriam 
Coffin.  This  tract  was  within  the  boundaries  of 
Wauwinet 's  possessions.  It  has  been  stated  that  this 
district  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, was  covered  with  trees  to  a  great  extent. 

Quidnet  (a  contraction  for  Aquidnet,  meaning  "at 
the  place  of  the  point ")  was  originally  one  of  the  fishing- 
stages,  but  afterwards  became  a  good-sized  village 
and  famous  for  its  fishing.  It  is  situated  north  of 
Secacacha  Pond,  and  consists  at  present  of  only  a  few 
straggling  houses. 

Here,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
lived  for  many  years,  in  a  quaint  old  domicile,  the 
hermit  Frederick  Parker.  He  was  a  genial,  urbane 
man,  who,  although  he  had  separated  himself  from  the 
outer  world,  was  nevertheless  pleased  to  receive 
visitors  and  to  exchange  his  views  with  them  as  to 
current  events.     He  died  many  years  ago. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  273 

Secacacha  (usually  contracted  to  Sacacha)  village, 
so  named  from  the  adjacent  pond,  was  erected  about 
1700,  and  up  to  181 8,  was  well  knowa^s  a  fishing- 
place  ;  indeed  it  was  for  a  time  the  largest  fishing-stage 
on  the  island.  It  was,  however,  ultimately  abandoned 
for  Sconset,  and  many  of  its  numerous  houses  were 
removed  to  the  latter  place. 

Sacacha  Pond  covers  over  three  hundred  acres, 
and  has  always  been  famous  as  a  fishing-place  for 
perch.  It  is  situated  about  seven  or  eight  miles  east 
of  Nantucket. 

Sankaty  Head'  is  one  of  the  highest  points  on  the 
island — ninety-two  feet— and  from  its  proud  eminence 
gleams  its  famous  lighthouse,  the  most  important 
beacon  on  the  island.  Sankaty  Head  is  about  one  mile 
and  a  half  north  from  Siasconset,  and  the  cliff  walk 
between  these  two  places  is  one  of  the  most  enjoyable 
that  can  be  imagined.  The  tower  of  the  beacon,  which 
is  built  of  stone,  brick,  and  iron,  is  painted  white,  red, 
and  white,  alternately,  and  its  extreme  height  is  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  from  the  sea-level.  It 
shows  a  "Fresnel"  light  which  can  be  seen  distinctly 
at  a  distance  of  twenty-eight  miles  or  more  at  sea. 
This  splendid  light  was  flashed  across  the  ocean  for 
the  first  time  on  February  2,  1850;  it  consists  of  an 
intense  white  gleam  for  fifty  seconds,  varied  by  minutal 
flashes,  each  of  ten  seconds'  duration. 

On  October  i,  1912,  the  supply  of  Sankaty  light- 
house lamp  was  changed  from  "three- wick  oil-burning 
kerosene"  to  incandescent  oil  vapor.     Kerosene  oil  is 

'  The  derivation  of  this  word  is  obscure.     If  the  hill  was  called  by  the 
Indians,  as  stated  by  Z.  Macy,  Naphchecoy,  it  cannot  mean  "  round  the 
head";  Mr.  Worth  plausibly  suggests  that  it  may  mean  "on  the  other 
side  of  Pochick,"  which  is  at  least  intelligible. 
18 


274  Nantucket 

forced  by  air-pressure  from  the  holding  tank,  the  neces- 
sary amount  of  pressure  used  being  forty-eight  pounds ; 
the  oil  in  burner  is  heated  by  alcohol  for  fifteen  minutes 
until  it  becomes  incandescent  inside  the  mantle. 

The  lenses  from  the  oil-burning  lamp  gave  light, 
fixed,  4000  candle  power — flash  38,000.  The  lenses 
give  from  vapor  27,000  c.  p.  fixed  light,  and  estimated 
flash-light  220,000. ' 

The  lenses  alone  are  said  to  have  cost  $6000. 

For  many  years,  the  genial  Captain  Remsen  has 
been   the  very  competent  keeper  of  the  lighthouse. 

It  need  scarcely  be  added  that  a  most  magnificent 
view  can  be  obtained  from  the  outlook-landing  at  the 
top  of  the  tower.  Sankaty  Head  is  also  interesting  in 
a  scientific  sense  as  the  slopes  of  the  bluff  afford  a  good 
opportunity  for  observing  the  glacial  conformation  of 
the  island. 

Saul's  Hills,  about  four  miles  and  a  half  to  the  east 
from  Nantucket,  form  the  highest  group  on  the  island, 
Macy's  and  Folger's  being  the  highest.  Macy's  hill 
reaches  a  height  of  one  hundred  and  two  feet.  This 
range  of  glacial  hills  is  very  interesting  from  a  geological 
point  of  view,  and  their  rounded,  dome-like  tops  supply 
a  good  illustration  of  glacial  action,  which  was  the  last 
elemental  factor  in  the  preparation  of  the  earth  as  a 
dwelling-place  for  mankind. 

Anyone  with  a  heart  attuned  to  Nature  cannot  fail 
to  find  amid  the  solitude  and  varied  natural  resources 
of  this  elevated  region  a  benediction  and  a  perennial  jo}^ 

Siasconset,  an  Indian  w^ord  signifying  "near  the 
great  bone"  (Worth).  The  word  is  now  usually  abbre- 
viated to  Sconset, — at  present  a  popular  and  flourishing 
summer  resort  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Nantucket  Island, 

'  By  courtesy  of  Captain  Remsen. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  275 

although,  in  1748,  it  was  merely  a  stage  for  fishermen, 
and  many  of  its  original  cottages  were  removed  from 
Sacacha.  This  quaint  little  township  with  its  diminu- 
tive cottages  has  not  inaptly  been  compared  to  the 
contents  of  a  German  toy-box  left  out  of  doors  to 
sparkle  in  the  sun. 

It  is  seven  and  a  half  miles  from  Nantucket  town, 
with  which  it  is  in  direct  communication  by  means  of 
an  excellent  macadamized  road  and  a  line  of  railroad. 

It  is  built  upon  the  brow  of  a  slight  eminence  over- 
looking the  broad  Atlantic,  and  is  distinguished  by  the 
purity  of  its  air,  its  attractive  long  sandy  beach,  and 
the  sublime  roll  of  surf  which  dashes  upon  its  sandy 
shore.  It  is,  moreover,  constituted  as  a  unique  and 
independent  republic,  with  its  own- — for  the  most  part 
unwritten — laws,  which  are  founded  upon  broad  prin- 
ciples of  conscience,  reason,  philanthropy,  justice,  and 
friendship,  and  if  such  as  these  were  universally  incor- 
porated, this  "round  terrestrial  ball"  would  be  a  much 
better  and  pleasanter  dwelling-place  for  humanity  at 
large.  It  has  been  set  apart  as  a  recuperative  resting- 
place  for  the  dramatic  profession,  many  of  whom  have 
built  their  own  cosy  little  bungalows  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  justify  its  designation  as  "The  Actors'  Colony." 

The  native  inhabitants  are  distinguished  by  that 
quaintness,  intelligence,  and  true  hospitality  which 
have  ever  characterized  the  islanders  of  Nantucket, 
and  there  are  few  spots  where  one  can  enjoy  the  pre- 
eminent advantages  of  natural  hygiene,  quietude,  and 
simplicity  of  regime  so  happily  associated,  as  in  this 
delightful  resort. 

Siasconset  can  accommodate  over  1200  visitors. 
The  more  recent  part  of  the  township  extends  north 
and  south,  and  many  elegant  cottages  have  been  erected 


276  Nantucket 

in  addition  to  many  furnished  dwellings  and  boarding- 
houses. 

There  are  three  excellent  hotels,  viz:  "The  Ocean 
View,"  "The  Atlantic"  (now  called  "Old  Sconset  Inn"), 
and  the  "Beach  House, "^ — ^besides  a  well  equipped 
Casino,  splendid  golf-links,  unsurpassed  surf-bathing, 
an  ideal  playground  for  children,  complete  telephone 
and  wireless  telegraph  communication,  and  a  chapel 
for  worship  which  is  used  by  all  denominations  in  turn. 

Sunset  Heights,  at  the  west  end  of  Siasconset,  and 
about  eight  miles  from  Nantucket,  are  a  continuation 
of  the  bank  on  which  Sconset  is  built,  and  contain 
about  thirteen  acres.  There  is,  perhaps,  no  point  on 
the  island  from  which  a  more  sublime  view  of  the  broad 
Atlantic  can  be  obtained.  Here  the  mighty  ocean 
breaks  in  elemental  strife  over  Pochick  and  "Old  Man" 
rips,  and  here,  also,  the  fishermen  dart  through  the 
foam  with  their  laden  boats,  surf-bathers  exult  amid 
the  music  of  the  waves  and  the  weird  cry  of  hosts  of 
sea-gulls,  and  those  who  love  the  majestic  roll  of 
ocean's  diapason  have  only  to  listen  while  their  hearts 
rejoice. 

Many  summer  cottages  have  been  erected  here,  and 
this  lovely  spot  is  surely  destined  to  become  a  colony 
of  those  who  venerate  Nature  in  her  sublimest  moods. 

Tom  Never's  Head  (named  from  a  distinguished 
Indian,  so-called)  is  an  extensive  bluff  overlooking 
the  ocean,  of  which  it  affords  a  view  which  is  unsur- 
passed for  grandeur  and  sublimity.  The  bluff  is  in 
height  about  sixty-five  feet  from  the  level  of  the  sea, 
and  the  headland  is  about  six  miles  southeast  of 
Nantucket.  ^ 

'  A  vivid  description  of  this  grand  head  will  be  found  in  Mr.  North- 
rup's  Sconset  Cottage  Life. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  277 

Surf-Side,  a  name  given  to  about  four  miles  of  coast 
on  the  south  shore  of  the  island,  is  about  three  miles 
and  a  half  from  Nantucket,  and  has  received  its  name 
from  the  majestic  waves  which  break  upon  its  sands. 
The  land  is  high  and  level,  and  the  view  of  the  ocean  is 
magnificent  and  uninterrupted.  The  air  is  always,  pure, 
cool,  and  refreshing.  One  of  the  United  States  Life- 
saving  Stations,  installed  in  1874,  is  situated  here. 

Madeket,  Madaket,  Maddequet,  Madaquet,  Mat- 
taket  are  orthographical  variations  for  the  name  of  a 
small  village  on  the  west  side  of  Nantucket  Island,  and 
about  five  miles  from  the  town.  It  is  situated  on  an 
excellent,  though  shallow,  harbor  of  the  same  name,  is 
a  good  place  for  fishing,  and  it  contains  a  Life-saving 
Station,  a  short  distance  from  which  are  one  of  the  boat- 
houses  of  the  Humane  Society,  and  a  school  which  is 
open  for  six  months  of  the  year. 

On  the  old  Madeket  Road  is  the  Benjamin  Franklin 
Fountain,  erected  by  the  Abiah  Folger  Chapter  of  the 
D.  A.  R.,  near  the  site  of  Peter  Folger's  house.  It  was 
in  the  vicinity  of  Madeket  that  Thomas  Macy,  Edward 
Starbuck,  and  Thomas  Coleman  spent  their  first  year 
on  the  island — 1659-60 — in  making  preparations  for 
the  settlement. 

Smith's  Point  is  situated  at  the  extreme  western  end 
of  the  island,  and  extends  about  two  miles  beyond  the 
Life-saving  Station.  In  1790,  the  sea  cut  off  a  portion 
of  it,  thus  constituting  it  a  small  island  in  itself.  The 
cable-house  is  situated  here ;  also  one  of  the  boat-houses. 

It  is  traditional  that  this  point  was  the  landing-place 
used  by  the  Indians  of  Martha's  Vineyard  in  their 
intercourse  with  those  of  Nantucket,  and  it  was  called 
by  them  Nopque,  meaning  "the  point  far  away."  The 
word    Noapx,    erroneously   regarded   as   synonymous, 


278  Nantucket 

refers  to  the  "Noapogs,"  or  "far  away  people,"  i.  e. 
the  Indians  of  Martha's  Vineyard. 

Smith's  Point  is  about  six  miles  west  from  Nantucket. 
The  boat-house  referred  to  above  is  that  of  the  Humane 
Society,  and  is  about  two  miles  west  of  the  Life-saving 
Station. 

Tuckemuck  or  Tuckanuckett — said  to  mean  "a 
loaf  of  bread  " — -is  a  small  island  lying  two  miles  or  so 
to  the  west  of  Nantucket  Island,  and  contains  about 
1260  acres.  In  1659,  it  was  sold  by  Thomas  Mayhew 
to  Tristram  Coffin  and  others  for  £6.  A  number  of 
families  live  on  the  island,  and  some  influential  visitors 
have  summer  residences  there.  It  is  a  pleasant  sail 
to  the  island,  where  there  is  first-rate  fishing.  A  school 
is  maintained  during  the  summer  months. 

It  is  marked  on  De  Laet's  map,  1630,  as  Pentockynock. 

Muskeget  is  the  name  of  another  small  island,  about 
ten  miles  west  from  that  of  Nantucket,  where  there  is 
also  a  Life-saving  Station.  The  derivation  of  the 
word  is  uncertain,  but  it  may  mean  "the  place  of  grass 
land."  An  earlier  name  was  Kotget.  It  contains 
about  three  hundred  acres,  and  is  comparatively  useless 
except  for  fishing  and  shooting.  It  it  a  popular  place 
with  those  who  are  fond  of  these  two  varieties  of  sport, 
and  it  is  famous  as  a  breeding-place  for  gulls  and  terns. 

The  Town  of  Nantucket  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a 
gentle  slope  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  harbor,  almost 
in  the  middle  of  the  island.  Until  1795,  it  was  known 
as  Sherburne,  a  name  suggested,  as  some  assert,  by 
Governor  Lovelace  of  New  York  Province;  while 
others  contend  that  the  name  was  bestowed  from  Sher- 
burne, a  small  seaport  town  in  Dorsetshire,  England, 
which  was  the  home  of  Thomas  Gardner,  the  father  of 
Richard  and  John  Gardner  of  Nantucket. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  279 

The  town  covers  a  settled  area  of  about  six  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  or  one  square  mile,  and  with  the  old- 
time  architecture  of  its  wooden  houses  it  is  as  quaint 
as  it  is  picturesque. 

The  greater  part  of  the  town  was  built  when  the 
whaling  industry  was  flourishing,  when  the  town  had 
a  population  of  nearly  10,000,  and  the  roof-walks  on  a 
multitude  of  houses  still  witness  to  the  "olden  golden 
days,"  when  the  inmates  of  nearly  every  household 
were  wont  to  look  for  the  return  of  the  whalers  from  long 
and  perilous  voyages.  Many  a  stately  dwelling  still 
remains  to  keep  a  storied  past  in  sweet  remembrance, 
and  there  is  a  charm  about  the  town's  cobble-paved 
streets  which  has  only  to  be  once  felt  to  be  kept  ever 
green  in  memory.  About  half  a  century  ago,  its  chief 
thoroughfares  were  lined  with  elm-trees  and  maples 
which  have  grown  into  magnificent  trees;  and  their 
interlacing  branches,  covered  with  foliage  in  summer- 
time, form  a  delightful  shade.  The  variety  and  bright- 
ness of  its  many  stores  and  markets  rival  those  of  more 
pretentious  cities,  while  its  historical  associations  are 
replete  with  interest;  moreover,  the  inhabitants  are 
characterized  by  geniality  and  intelligence,  and  possess 
a  personality  which  is  as  unique  as  indescribable. 

Brant  Point  is  situated  at  the  entrance  to  Nantucket 
harbor.  As  early  as  1700,  beacon-lights  of  a  primitive 
character  were  maintained  by  the  islanders  at  this 
point,  but  the  first  lighthouse  was  not  erected  until 
1746.  This  was  the  second  beacon-light  for  ships  ever 
built  in  the  United  States.  Of  four  lighthouses  erected 
on  this  point,  three  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  one 
was  blown  down  in  1774.  In  1791,  the  point  was  ceded 
to  the  government  by  the  town  authorities.  The 
present  lighthouse  was  built  in  1856,  and  was  in  use 


28o  Nantucket 

until  1900  when,  it  being  found  that  the  construction 
of  the  jetties  interfered  with  the  range  of  the  Hght,  there 
was  erected  a  smaller  wooden  structure,  which  is  still 
in  operation, ' 

It  was  at  Brant  Point  also,  that  ship-building  was 
carried  on,  at  intervals,  from  1810-40. 

Coatue — "at  the  Pine-woods" — is  a  long,  low,  nar- 
row point  of  sand,  about  a  mile  from  Nantucket,  ex- 
tending from  the  entrance  to  the  harbor  to  Coskata. 

Sherburne  Bluffs  is  a  beautifully  situated  tract  of 
land,  about  twenty-five  acres  in  extent,  a  little  more 
than  a  mile  due  north  of  the  town  of  Nantucket  by  way 
of  the  Cliff  road.  A  magnificent  view  of  the  entire 
bay  is  afforded  from  this  delightful  locality,  where  there 
are  also  numerous  summer  cottages  and  residences. 
It  is  stated  that  there  was  formerly  a  grove  of  white 
oaks  in  this  vicinity,  but  it  has  long  since  disappeared. 

Monomoy  is  a  large  tract  of  land  across  the  harbor 
from  Nantucket,  about  one  mile  from  the  steamboat 
wharf,  and  two  miles  via  Sconset  road.  It  forms  part 
of  the  southern  boundary  of  the  harbor.  In  1678,  the 
acreage  of  South  Monomoy  was  eighty-seven  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  rods,  and  of  West  Monomoy  in 
1726-27  seventy-six  acres  and  fifty-four  rods.  Several 
inland  creeks  formerly  existed  on  this  land,  but  they 
are  gradually  being  filled  up.  There  are  a  number  of 
neat  summer  cottages  at  the  northern  end  of  this 
beautiful  district. 

Other  Sections  of  the  island  are  known  as  Trot's 
Hills  in  the  northwest,  North,  Middle,  and  South 
Pastures,  Southeast  Quarter,  Town  Pasture,  Smooth 
Hummocks,  the  Woods,  the  Plains,  the  Head  of  the 
Plains,  Nanahumack's  Neck,  etc.,  but  their  distinctive 

'  For  further  particulars  vide  Chapter  XX. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  281 

features  have  been  obliterated,  the  varied  uses  for 
which  they  were  originally  constituted  no  longer  exist, 
and,  for  the  most  part,  the  silence  and  fragrance  of  the 
"moorlands"  shroud  them  in  oblivion.  They  call 
for  no  further  notice  here. 

Springs.  There  are  innumerable  springs  of  water  on 
the  island,  and  the  early  settlers  were  careful  that  one 
of  these  natural  benefactions  was  in  close  proximity 
to  their  respective  house-lots. 

A  few  of  those  springs  which  have  received  insular 
prominence  may  be  enumerated:  Sachem  Spring,  on 
the  north  shore  beyond  the  bathing  beach;  Shawkemo 
Spring,  at  Shawkemo;  Eat-Fire  Spring,  beyond  the 
termination  of  Polpis  harbor;  Benjamin  Franklin 
Spring  which  marked  the  site  of  Peter  Folger's  house 
on  Madeket  Road — now  conducted  to  an  ornamental 
fountain  by  the  Abiah  Chapter  of  the  Nantucket 
D.  A.  R. ;  and  Consue  Spring  near  the  foot  of  Union 
Street. 

Wherever  an  old  house  exists,  or  has  existed,  one  is 
sure  to  find  a  living  spring  of  water  adjacent,  thus 
showing  that  our  forefathers  recognized  in  pure  cold 
water  one  of  the  most  invaluable  gifts  with  which  the 
All-Father  has  dowered  humanity. 

Shimmo  and  Shawkemo — the  former  signifying  "a 
spring,"  and  the  latter  "the  middle  field  of  land," — are 
two  conjoined  tracts  of  land  which  constitute  the  south 
boundary  of  the  harbor.  At  one  time,  it  was  proposed 
to  build  a  new  town  in  this  locality,  but  the  project 
failed  to  realize. 

Quaise  or  Masquetuck — the  former  referring  to 
"the  end  or  point,"  the  latter  meaning  "reed-river, 
but  transferred  to  the  land" — is  interesting  as  having 
been  the  neck  of  land  reserved  by  Mr.  Thomas  May- 


282  Nantucket 

hew  for  his  own  use  when  he  sold  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket to  the  settlers.  Macy  says:  "It  was  a  tract  of 
land  given  to  Mr.  Thomas  Macy  by  one  of  the  old 
Sachems."'  Quaise  extends  into  Nantucket  harbor 
and  forms  the  western  boundary  of  Polpis  harbor.  It 
is  also  interesting  as  the  locality  on  which  the  famous 
Keziah  CofEn  had  her  country  seat,  and  where  she 
carried  on  smuggling  for  a  considerable  time  before 
she  was  arrested  and  tried.  Under  the  title  Miriam 
Coffin,  Colonel  Hart  related  in  his  well-known  novel, 
the  history  and  adventures  of  this  extraordinary 
woman. 

Polpis  or  Podpis — meaning  "the  divided  or  branch 
harbor" — a  village  about  equidistant  between  Wauwinet 
and  Nantucket,  is  interesting  as  having  had  the  home 
of  one  of  the  early  settlers  within  its  boundaries.  John 
Swain  purchased  land  here  in  1680,  and  presumably 
built  his  house  when  his  title  was  confirmed  in  1684. 
Additions  had  been  made  to  it  since  it  was  built,  and 
the  house  remained  until  1902,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  lightning, — the  oldest  house  on  the  island.  The 
village  is  situated  on  an  inlet  of  the  upper  harbor  which 
bears  the  same  name.  This  district  represents  the 
"  Spotso  Country,"  so-called  from  the  old  Indian  Spotso 
who,  through  his  wife,  was  resident  Sachem  for  nearly 
forty  years.  The  land  is  fertile,  and  the  village  still 
contains  a  number  of  dwellings  in  addition  to  a  school- 
house. 

Swain's  Neck,  at  Polpis,  was  known  to  the  Indians 
as  Nashua-tuck  (generally  corrupted  into  Nashayte), 
and  means  "  the  land  between  two  tidal  rivers."  The 
term  Mosquetuck,  also  applied  to  the  neck  of  land, 
was  originally  given  to  the  stream  or  river  which  flowed 

'O.  Ma.cy's  History. 


Villages,  Districts,  Etc.  283 

into  Polpis  harbor  beside  the  neck.     It  means  "reed- 
river." 

Pocomo,  Poocoomo,  or  Pacummoquah — "a  round 
fishing-place"- — forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  Polpis 
harbor,  and  is  a  headland  extending  into  the  upper 
harbor  of  Nantucket,  It  is  about  four  and  a  half,  miles 
from  Nantucket  by  water,  and  contains,  among  other 
things,  a  number  of  good  farms. 


CHAPTER  XV 

QUAINT  NANTUCKETERS 

The  word  quaint  has  many  definitions,  but,  as  applied 
to  persons  or  things  it  usually  implies  something  un- 
common and  something  attractive, — something  which 
is  interesting,  and  at  the  same  time  individualistic. 
Nantucket  has  long  borne  the  reputation  of  being  a 
quaint  island,  and  Nantucketers  are  usually  dubbed 
quaint  people,  and  in  both  instances  the  term  is,  or  has 
been,  appropriate  and  relevant.  Nantucket  is  still 
quaint ■  because  it  is  unique;  Nantucketers  have  been 
quaint  in  other  days, — a  peculiar  people,  differing 
from  others  in  manners  and  customs  from  the  reaction 
of  their  environment,  but  they  are  now  in  a  transitional 
state  owing  to  environmental  transmutation.  The 
insular  position  of  Nantucket — like  a  garden  in  the 
ocean, — the  bounteousness  of  its  natural  gifts,  and  its 
remarkable  history,  render  the  island  exceptional  and 
unconventional,  while  the  almost  iminterrupted  trans- 
mission of  the  virile  qualities  which  they  have  inherited 
from  the  white  settlers  of  over  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago  still  forcibly  characterize  the  islanders  who 
have  sprung  from  their  loins. 

To  do  this  subject  justice  would  require  a  large 
volume:  here  there  is  only  space  for  a  brief  reference 

284 


Quaint  Nantucketers  285 

to  those  characteristic  manners  and  customs  of  Nan- 
tucketers which  have  hitherto  distinguished  them  up 
to  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  when  the  off- 
islanders  chose  to  share  the  beauties  and  health-giving 
ocean  air,  of  their  island-home,  and  gradually  neutral- 
ized to  some  extent  their  personal  peculiarities. 

Passing  over  the  prevailing  quaintness  of  the  Quaker 
period,  in  habits,  customs,  and  phraseology,  with  its 
predominating  gray  and  sunless  atmosphere,  relieved 
by  very  few  instances  of  marked  individuality  amid  the 
stagnant  uniformity,  one  does  not  recognize  any  thril- 
ling records  of  personality  until  the  islanders  assumed 
the  dominance  of  the  sea  during  the  latter  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

"  Men  must  work 
And  women  must  weep" 

when  the  males  of  a  restricted  sea-girt  community  "go 
down  to  the  sea  in  ships,"  and  so  it  was  in  Nantucket 
when  they  followed  the  " sparmocityes "  "from  sea  to 
sea"  all  over  the  world.  The  women  had  to  gossip, 
and  watch,  and  weep  at  home  when  the  men,  amid  the 
perils  of  the  deep,  were  risking  their  lives  for  their 
support.  The  minds  of  both  sexes  were  consequently 
working  in  a  very  narrow  groove — the  one  working  and 
the  other  watching — and  thus  evolutional  expansion  was 
rendered  nugatory,  if  not  impossible.  Both  were  doing 
their  duty,  but  within  limits  of  the  severest  restriction. 
If  we  seek  for  any  evidences  of  personality  under  such 
circumstances,  we  can  find  them  only  in  the  log-books 
and  ships'  records  of  the  male  voyagers,  and  amid  the 
reactionary  experiences  shared  by  the  wives  and 
families  when  the  sailor-men  returned  home. 


286  Nantucket 

These  log-books  are  replete  with  interest  and  quaint- 
ness  to  those  who  sympathize  with  the  environment  of 
these  heroic  seafarers  of  a  time  now  long  past.  For- 
tunately, a  number  of  these  characteristic,  if  well- 
thumbed  documents  are  still  accessible,  and  throw 
much  light  upon  the  varied  lives  and  experiences  of 
Nantucket's  once  famous  whalers. 

The  most  meager  reference  is  all  that  is  here  possible. 
About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  Peleg — • 
(pronounced  Pillick) — Folger  began  to  keep  a  daily 
journal  of  his  maritime  experiences,  and  he  thus  begins 
his  diary: 

Peleg  Folger,  his  hand  and  Book  written  at  sea  on  Board 
the  sloop  Grampus,  May,  1751.  Many  pe  pie  who  keep 
journals  at  sea  fill  them  up  with  trifles.  I  purpose  in  the 
following  sheets  not  to  keep  an  over  strict  history  of  every 
trifling  occurrence  that  happens;  only  now  and  then  some 
particular  affair,  and  to  fill  up  the  rest  with  subjects  Mathe- 
matical, Historical,  Philosophical,  or  Poetical  as  best  suits 
my  inclination — 

"Qui  docet  indoctos  licet  indoctissimus  esset 
Ille  quoque  breve  ceteris  doctior  esse  queat."  • 

This  quotation  at  least  evidences  the  fact  that  Peleg 
had  had  a  better  education  than  most  of  those  in  his 
position,  and  this  is  sustained  by  his  apparent  penchant 
for  using  Latin  phrases  not  only  correctly  but  appropri- 
ately, and  in  every  instance  with  orthographical  exacti- 
tude. That  he  was  also  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind 
is  evident  from  the  ending  of  many  of  his  paragraphs 
consisting  of   expressions  in  Latin — witnessing  to  his 

'  "He  who  teaches  the  unlearned  may  be  most  unlearned,  although 
he  is  only  a  little  more  learned  than  the  others." 


Quaint  Nantucketers  287 

dependence  upon,  or  gratefulness  for  benefits  received 
from,  an  overruling  Providence.  He  was  esteemed  as 
a  "character"  in  his  day,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
following  fragment  of  a  nautical  ditty  concerning 
him: 

"  Old  Uncle  Pillick  he  built  him  a  boat 

On  the  ba — ack  side  of  Nantucket  P'int; 
He  rolled  up  his  trousers  and  set  her  afloat 
On  the  ba — ack  side  of  Nantucket  P'int." 

His  diary  literally  gleams  with  the  strong  individu- 
ality of  the  writer,  a  glare  of  selfhood  which  indeed 
characterized  these  hardy  mariners  from  the  commence- 
ment of  the  whaling  industry,  and  in  page  after  page 
he  faithfully  records,  in  his  own  quaint  language,  the 
varied  experiences  on  board  his  craft,  interlarded 
with  personal  remarks  and  sometimes  with  m^oral 
reflections. 

In  these  earlier  days  when  Peleg's  journal  begins, 
the  cruises  of  the  whalers  usually  extended  for  a  few 
weeks  instead  of  the  several  years'  absence  necessitated 
by  their  more  venturesome  ocean-wanderings  at  a  later 
period.  At  the  end  of  his  first  cruise,  in  1 751,  he  writes 
on  May  15th: 

This  day  we  fell  in  with  the  South  Shoal  and  made  our 
dear  Nantucket,  and  thro'  God's  mercy  got  round  the  point 
in  the  afternoon.  So  we  turned  it  up  to  the  Bar  by  the  Sun 
2  hours  high. — Laus  Deo. 

Returning  from  a  third  cruise,  on  July  14th  of  the 
same  year,  he  writes: 

We  have  killed  two  spermaceties.  Now  for  home,  Boys. 
We  have  seventy  barrels  in  our  Hold — ex  heneficia  divina. 


288  Nantucket 

Another  nautical  narrator,  yclept  Peter  Folger,  has 
also  jotted  down  his  experiences  in  his  log-book  from 
which  the  following  memo  is  taken  under  date  of 
July,  1761: 

July  ye  29  we  stoed  away  our  whale.  We  saw  2  sloops 
to  the  Easterd  of  us,  and  we  saw  divers  sparmocities,  and 
we  scruck  one  and  maid  her  spout  Blood.  She  went  down, 
and  their  came  a  Snarl  in  the  Toe-line  and  catched  John 
Meyrick  and  over  sot  the  boat  and  we  never  saw  him 
after  wards.     We  saved  the  whale ! 

A  careful  perusal  of  these  old  journals  indicates 
where  we  must  look  for  the  genealogical  sources  of 
Nantucketers'  quaintness,  and  it  is  here  alone  that 
they  can  be  discovered.  Every  trait  and  peculiarity 
of  an  island-bom  Nantucketer  has  filtered  through  the 
heart's  blood  of  these  once-famous  American  Vikings, 
and  it  is  from  them  have  been  transmitted  those  bright 
attributes  of  intelligence  and  character  which  distin- 
guish Nantucketers  all  the  world  over,  and  which, 
often  above  the  average,  and  occasionally  tending  toward 
eccentricity,  are  always  forcible  and  ever  individualistic. 

Still  later,  the  stream  of  descent  receives  a  fresh 
impulse  from  the  Pacific  Club,  where,  like  knights  of 
old,  the  ancient  mariners  recounted  their  deeds  of  daring 
and  the  dangers  of  the  deep,  while  their  spellbound 
auditors  blanched  with  terror  and  amazement  as  the 
blood-curdling  narratives  followed  each  other  in  rapid 
succession.  For,  as  a  modem  writer  has  well  said, 
"The  threads  that  made  up  the  strand  of  Nantucket 
were  not  diverse:  in  one  way  or  another  they  all  wove 
themselves  into  the  sea." 

The  Rotch  Market,  in  which  the  Pacific  Club  has 


Quaint  Nantucketers  289 

its  Captains'  Room,  was  built  in  1772,  but  it  was  not 
until  1 86 1  that  it  was  purchased  by  trustees  for  an 
association  of  whaling  masters  to  be  called  the  "Pacific 
Club,"  and  since  that  year  the  heroic  captains  of  old, 
— unfortunately  a  fast-decreasing  number — have  met 
in  the  "Captains'  Room"  to  tell  the  story  of  their 
adventures,  to  compare  their  experiences,  to  enjoy 
well-earned  rest  and  recreation,  to  smoke  their  pipes, 
and  to  interest  and  entertain  their  numerous  guests 
within  their  friendship-consecrated  quarters,  still  sacred 
to  memory,  and  fragrant  with  romance. 

One  by  one,  alas,  this  jovial  band  has  now  disap- 
peared— Crossed  the  Bar  for  the  last  time  on  their 
last  voyage;  and  the  most  recent — the  sage  and  genial 
Captain  Defriez,  known  and  loved  by  all  Nantucketers 
— passed  away  quietly  in  his  ninety-first  year,  during  the 
spring  of  19 13.  The  last  link  of  a  chain  of  heroes  he 
was,  the  last  leaf  on  a  mighty  tree  which  has  borne 
good  fruit  on  the  island  which  bore  them,  the  beloved 
mother  of  them  all. 

The  quaintness  of  manners  and  customs,  of  phrase- 
ology and  of  character,  which  has  been  associated  with 
the  islanders  of  Nantucket,  has  sprung  from  the  bosom 
of  the  ocean,  and  has  been  transmitted  from  generation 
to  generation. 

The  following  is  quoted  from  an  old  periodical  pub- 
lished over  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  shows  how  "a 
little  leaven  leaveneth  the  whole  lump." 

Every  house  in  this  sea-faring  place  has  a  look-out  upon 
the  roof,  or  a  vane  at  the  gable  end,  to  see  what  ships  have 
arrived  from  sea,  or  whether  the  wind  is  fair  for  the  packets. 
Sea-phrases  accordingly  prevail  in  familiar  conversation. 
Every  child  can  tell  which  way  the  wind  blows,  and  any  old 
19 


290  Nantucket 

woman  in  the  street  will  talk  of  cruising  about,  hailing  an 
old  mess-mate,  or  making  one  bring  to,  as  familiarly  as  the 
captain  of  a  whale-ship  just  arrived  from  the  northwest 
coast  will  describe  dimension  to  a  land-lubber  by  the  span 
of  his  jib-boom,  or  the  length  of  his  mainstay. 

If  you  have  a  spare  dinner,  it  is  short  allowance,  if  you  are 
going  to  ride,  the  horse  must  be  tackled  up;  if  the  chaise  is 
rigged  out,  you  are  got  under  way;  should  you  stop  short  of 
your  destination,  you  are  said  to  tack  about,  or  to  make  a 
harbour.  This  technical  phraseology,  however,  is  attended 
with  the  concomitant  frankness  and  honesty  of  sea-faring 
life — you  meet  a  hearty  welcome  wherever  you  go. 

The  same  authority  says:  "From  the  habit  of  trans- 
acting business,  in  the  absence  of  their  husbands, 
w^omen  are  frequently  concerned  in  mercantile  affairs, 
and  manage  them  to  advantage."     Again: 

Before  the  Revolution,  the  people  of  Nantucket  were  like 
a  band  of  brothers.  They  were  then  an  unmixed  race  of 
English  descent.  They  were  clad  in  homespun,  and  minded 
their  own  business.  Such  a  thing  as  a  bankruptcy  was 
therefore  almost  unexampled.  .  .  .  They  still  frequently 
call  each  other  by  the  familiar  appellations  of  uncle,  aunt, 
cousin,  etc.  Persons  of  note  are  saluted  by  everybody  they 
meet;  and  the  popular  name  of  captain  is  often  bestowed 
on  respectable  people  who  never  followed  the  sea,  and  per- 
petuated, as  a  creditable  title,  like  that  of  squire,  on  the 
continent,  to  those  who  have  retired  from  business. 

Alluding  to  the  absence  of  corporal  punishment  our 
ancient  narrator  says,  with  regard  to  the  jail: 

The  prison  is  admirably  adapted  to  this  state  of  things,  for 
it  would  not  readily  contain  more  than  two  or  three  inmates 
at  a  time.  Of  its  present  incumbents  one  is  a  little  deranged, 
and  the  other,  it  is  said,  might  go  if  he  would! 


Quaint  Nantucketers  291 

One  more  quotation: 

In  common  with  other  places  of  easy  circumstances  and 
difficult  access,  the  people  of  Nantucket  are  happy  to  see 
strangers,  and  such  as  have  anything  to  recommend  them 
to  notice  are  entertained  with  unbounded  hospitality  from 
house  to  house.  Luxuries  are  held  in  common,  whoever 
has  anything  better  than  his  neighbours  will  send  it  to  them 
without  asking  in  cases  of  company  or  sickness.  ^ 

Such  is  unimpeachable  testimony  as  to  the  quaintness 
of  Nantucketers  a  century  ago.  If  it  is  wearing  away 
with  age  it  can  only  be  a  matter  for  regret ! 

A  self-reliant,  seafaring  people,  to  a  great  extent  shut 
off  during  many  years  from  the  rude  world,  will,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  have  their  character,  habits,  and 
conversation  evolved  in  accordance  with  their  environ- 
ment, and  peculiarities  or  idiosyncrasies  will  develop 
themselves  in  relation  to  circumstances  and  experiences. 
Their  virtues  may  savour  of  ancient  history,  but  they 
are  none  the  less  genuine  and  unaffected;  and  their 
language,  modes  of  expression,  and  customs  are  all  in 
strict  accordance  with  the  simple  conditions  amid 
which  they  have  been  developed. 

Not  only  among  the  seafarers  but  among  the 
municipal  authorities  of  the  town  the  same  strain  of 
quaintness  asserted  itself,  and  a  peep  into  the  Town 
Records  reveals  it  in  all  its  integrity. 

The  town-house  was,  and  still  is,  the  center  of  mani- 
fold and  various  activities,  wherein  all  matters  of 
municipal  importance  are  considered  amid  frequent 
divergences  of  opinion.  As  far  back  as  the  spring  of 
1707,  it  was  decreed  that  "the  towne  howse  should  be 

'  The  Portfolio,  vol.  v.,  No.  i,  January,  i8il. 


292  Nantucket 

repaired,"  and  then  it  was  arranged  that  "thursday 
next  should  be  the  day  to  goe  to  a  perambelation," 
an  annual  function  involving  walking  along  the  bound- 
ary lines  of  public  lands,  and  noting  if  the  marks  were 
standing,  or  if  any  man  had  encroached  upon  them; 
for  which  service,  of  course  the  "  perambelators "  were 
"paid  for  their  time,"  the  principal  asset  of  many  of 
them.  It  was  somewhat  of  a  hilarious  procession, 
being  accompanied  by  all  the  boys  and  dogs  in  the 
neighborhood. 

Anon,  a  schoolmaster  had  to  be  hired  at  "three 
score  pound  current  money  for  the  yeare,"  and  sub- 
sequently the  following  legislation  had  to  be  "put 
through"  concerning  the  commons: 

No  hogg  shall  go  thereon  without  an  order. 

No  man  shall  mow  grass  in  the  ram  paster. 

Bethiah  Gardner  shall  mow  grass  at  Coatue  in  compen- 
sation of  her  grass  eaten  up  by  sheepe  at  Pacamoka. 

It  was  further  resolved  that  "John  Macy  shall  build 
a  prison  for  the  towne  as  soon  as  he  can." 

In  the  records  for  1710,  it  is  stated  that  "George 
Gardner  was  chosen  trustee  by  vote  and  was  at  ye 
same  time  put  out  againe."  A  number  of  farmers 
having  suffered  losses  from  depredating  Indians 
who  stole  their  sheep,  and  from  dogs  and  hogs  which 
killed  and  ate  them,  the  natives  were  punished, — all 
swine  were  impounded,  and  the  civic  fathers  ordered 
"that  all  the  Dogs  upon  the  Island  of  Nantucket  be 
forthwith  killed!"  Later,  as  might  have  been  ex- 
pected, a  plague  of  rats  infested  the  island,  and  the 
town-meeting  ordered  that   "every  person  who  shall 


Quaint  Nantucketers  293 

kill  a  Rat  and  bring  his  head  to  the  towne  treasurer 
shall  Receive  for  every  such  Rat  a  sixpence."  In 
order  to  avoid  cheating  by  bringing  the  heads  of  young 
or  harmless  rats,  it  was  further  stipulated  that  "the 
Rat  shall  be  so  full  grown  as  to  be  all  over  covered 
with  hair." 

Constables  were  also  appointed  "to  walk  the  town 
in  the  night-season,  and  on  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
to  suppress  the  growing  disorder  of  the  young  people 
and  all  others  that  act  inconsistently  with  the  princi- 
ples of  morality  and  virtue" ;  and  this  was  followed  up 
by  the  town-meeting  petitioning  the  Legislature  of 
Boston  "to  pass  an  act  to  put  a  stop  to  masters  and 
mistresses  of  houses  entertaining  minors  at  unseason- 
able hours  of  the  night,  in  Drinking  and  Carousing 
and  Frolicking  contrary  to  the  minds  of  their  parents." 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  sitting  in  Nantucket, 
licensed  John  Coffin  to  sell  "Tea  and  Coffy,"  and  Wil- 
liam Rotch  ("who  had  been  complained  of  by  a  licensed 
retailer"),  to  sell  "Speritious  Lickers"  out  of  doors 
only! 

The  court  recorded  the  certificates  of  a  magistrate 
that  Stephen  Norton  had  sworn  "one  profane  oath," 
and  also  "one  profane  curs." 

Those  who  were  found  guilty  of  "not  attending 
Public  Worship  for  more  than  one  month"  were  fined 
ten  shillings  each,  and  five  shillings  and  sixpence  as 
costs  of  court. 

A  woman  in  a  breach  of  promise  case  claimed  damages 
of  two  hundred  pounds  from  a  sailor;  but,  as  all  the 
property  of  the  defendant  amounted  to  only  twelve 
pounds  four  shillings  and  seven  and  a  quarter  pence, 
the  court  awarded  this  sum,  and  the  woman  expressed 
satisfaction ! 


294  Nantucket 

It  was  voted  to  build  a  workhouse,  and  another  vote 
was  passed  not  to  build  one. 

The  town  paid  Silas  Paddock  "for  nursing  a  squaw 
thirteen  weeks  at  twelve  shillings  per  week";  and  or- 
dered that  ' '  the  negro  woman  Hager  be  considered  one 
of  the  towns  Poor." 

Finally,  the  collector  of  taxes,  in  1771,  being  delin- 
quent, was  put  in  jail,  and  he  "refused  to  deliver  the 
tax  books,  or  any  extract  from  them  until  he  was  let 
out!" 

Thus  and  thus,  for  page  after  page,  the  town's  doings 
are  faithfully  recorded.  It  would  have  been  an  easy 
matter  to  quote  many  other  illustrations,  but  the  few 
which  have  been  cited  will  serve  to  show  that  there  is 
a  congenital  undercurrent  of  humor  pervading  the 
characteristic  quaintness  of  the  islanders  of  Nantucket. 

Individuality  is  preeminently  a  matter  of  inheritance, 
and,  in  reckoning  up  the  personality  of  a  Nantucketer, 
we  must  primarily  regard  his  Quaker  and  nautical 
ancestry,  and  the  unique  elements  which  he  has  de- 
veloped for  himself,  representing  a  blend  of  both  strains. 
Inherent  humor  is  always  a  prominent  characteristic 
of  a  Nantucketer,  and  it  will  be  found  on  examination 
that,  in  almost  every  case,  it  is  closely  associated  either 
with  the  sea  or  the  gray  fraternity  of  Friends,  and  in 
accordance  with  the  elements  of  both  as  blent  in  his 
own  personality.  A  few  instances  culled  from  many 
hundreds  of  island  anecdotes  will  serve  to  illustrate  the 
uniqueness  of  Nantucket  humor,  and  they  may  be 
conveniently  grouped  under  three  heads,  viz :  Nautical, 
Quakerish,  and  Personal. 

An  old  captain,  being  invited  out  to  dinner,  frankly 
acknowledged  that  he  was  ready  to  "fall  to"  any  time, 
for  he'd  "come  with  a  swep'  hold." 


Quaint  Nantucketers  295 

Another  being  asked  why  he  retired  from  the  sea 
repHed:  "Well,  I  thought  when  I  got  to  the  No'thard 
o'  sixty,  'twas  time  to  heave  to." 

Yet  another,  on  a  visit  to  New  York,  found  fault  with 
the  lack  of  oysters  in  the  stew  served  to  him  at  a 
restaurant,  and,  calling  to  the  waiter,  inquired,  "Say, 
can't  you  give  us  a  few  more  oysters?  These  here  are 
a  day's  sail  apart!" 

A  member  of  the  "  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Nantucket" 
wrote  on  a  reply  postcard  accompanying  the  announce- 
ment of  the  annual  reunion,  "Sorry  I  can't  fetch  it, 
but  I'll  try  and  forelay  for  it  next  year." 

A  thrifty  wife  of  the  old  days,  noting  that  the 
larder  was  getting  low,  and  seeing  no  immediate 
prospect  of  its  being  replenished,  is  said  to  have  re- 
marked to  her  lazy  husband,  who  had  been  sitting 
in  the  chimney  corner  all  winter:  "Well,  John,  one 
or  tother  of  us  has  got  to  go  round  Cape  Horn,  and  I 
ain't  agoin'." 

Long  absences  from  home  were  accepted  as  so  much 
a  matter  of  course  in  the  old  days  that  we  can  almost 
believe  the  story  of  the  wife  who  saw  her  husband 
coming  up  the  street  on  his  return  from  a  four  years' 
voyage  "around  the  Horn,"  and,  taking  the  empty 
water-pail  from  its  place  on  the  dresser,  met  him  at  the 
door  with  "Hullo,  John,  got  back  have  ye?  Here,  go 
get  a  bucket  o'  water." 

A  sailor  just  home  from  a  voyage  was  strolling  down 
the  street  on  his  sea-legs,  in  a  brand  new  suit  from  the 
outfitter's  shop — his  pocket  full  of  money  which  he 
couldn't  get  rid  of  fast  enough — smoking  a  long  "nine," 
ogling  the  maids,  and  with  a  general  "  the  world  is  mine  " 
air  in  his  whole  attitude  and  get-up,  when  he  was  thus 
indicated — "There's  Jack !     Rolling  down  to  St.  Helena 


296  Nantucket 

eighteen  cloths  in  the  lower  studd'ns'l,  and  no  change 
out  of  a  dollar!" 

The  captain  of  a  whaling  vessel  called  the  Aurora 
had  spelled  the  name  phonetically  in  his  log-book, 
Ororor,  and  this  being  noticed  by  the  shipowner  in 
looking  over  the  log-book  after  the  return  of  the  vessel, 
he  inquired  the  meaning  of  it,  when  the  skipper  in- 
formed him  that  "it  was  the  name  of  the  ship." 
"But,"  said  the  owner,  "that  is  not  the  proper  way 
to  spell  'Aurora.'  "  "Well,"  replied  the  captain, 
"if  Or-or-or  don't  spell  Ororor,  what  in  thunder  does 
it  spell?" 

Such  anecdotes  might  be  continued  indefinitely,  but 
the  nautical  expressions  are  so  interlarded  with  the 
familiar  every-day  language  of  the  islanders  that  they 
are  unaware  of  the  fact  until  their  attention  is  directed 
to  it  by  strangers.  A  Nantucketer  does  not  pull,  he 
always  "hauls,"  he  does  not  tie  or  fasten  anything,  he 
"splices"  it;  he  rigs  and  belays,  backs  and  fills,  gets 
under  way,  heaves  to,  comes  about  and  squares  away 
so  naturally  and  spontaneously  that  it  never  occurs  to 
him  that  there  is  anything  imusual  in  his  mode  of 
expressing  himself. 

Quakerish  anecdotes  are  equally  numerous  and 
characteristic,  and  may  be  exemplified  as  follows : 

An  old  Quaker  schoolmaster  set  the  following  copy 
on  the  blackboard  for  his  writing-class: 

"Beauty  fadeth  soon 
Like  a  rose  in  6th  month." 

This  parallelizes  the  reference  to  Robinson  Crusoe  and 
his  man  Sixth  Day! 

Aunt    Elizabeth  Black,   schoolmarm,   used   to  say, 


Quaint  Nantucketers  297 

when  a  pupil  recited  well:  "Excellent!  Excellent! 
Thee  deserves  a  reward  of  approbation!" 

"Friend  Charles,"  remarked  an  old  Quaker  to  a 
sailor  addicted  to  the  habit  of  drawing  the  long  bow, 
after  an  unusually  stiff  yam,  "if  thee'd  ever  been  one- 
half  as  economical  of  this  world's  goods  as  thee  is  of 
the  truth,  thee'd  be  the  richest  man  in  Nantucket." 
How  much  better  than  calling  a  man  a  liar! 

Occasionally  the  Quakers  dropped  into  verse,  as 
witness  the  well-known  proposal  of  Obed  Macy  to 
Abigail  Pinkham: 

"  From  a  long  consideration 
Of  the  good  reputation 
Thou  hast  in  this  nation, 
Gives  me  an  inclination 
To  become  th}^  relation 
By  a  legal  capitulation. 
And  if  this,  my  declaration, 
May  but  gain  thy  approbation, 
It  will  lay  an  obligation 
From  generation  to  generation 

On  thy  friend. 
Who,  without  thy  consideration, 
May  remain  in  vexation." 

"It  is  gratifying  to  be  able  to  record  that  this  effu- 
sion had  the  desired  effect,  and  that  Obed  and  Abigail 
were  married,  in  1786,  and  had  ten  children." 

An  old  Quaker  blacksmith,  who  always  told  the 
truth,  when  asked  by  a  customer  who  brought  him 
some  work,  when  it  would  be  done,  replied: 

"Well,  thee  may  call  on  fourth  day." 

On  Wednesday  the  customer  called.  "Is  my  job 
done,  Uncle  Obed?" 


298  Nantucket 

"No,  not  yet." 

"Why,  you  said  it  would  be  done  to-day." 

"Oh,  no;  I  said  thee  might  call  on  fourth  day.  I'm 
always  glad  to  see  thee." 

One  or  two  of  a  personal  character  may  here  be 
quoted : 

When  the  honor  of  entertaining  the  minister  fell 
to  Annie  Burrill,  the  good  woman  was  so  flustered  that 
she  forgot  to  put  any  tea  into  the  tea-pot,  although 
the  water  was  duly  boiled.  The  minister  accepted  the 
beverage  without  remark,  and  when  the  spirit  of  hospi- 
tality prompted  his  hostess  to  ask  him  repeatedly,  "Is 
your  tea  satisfactory?"  his  invariable  response  was,  "It 
has  no  bad  taste,  madam!"  Thus,  "as  weak  as  Annie 
Burrill's  tea  "  became  a  simile  for  her  day  and  generation. 

In  the  far  away  time  lived  one  Squire  Hussey,  lawyer, 
estate  agent,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  withal  a  past 
master  of  the  English  language,  as  will  appear  in  the 
following  notices: 

For  Sale:  A  dwelling-house  situated  on  the  Cliff.  This 
notable  headland  commands  an  extensive  view  of  the  Vine- 
yard Sound,  where  vessels  may  be  seen  passing  to  and  fro 
in  accelerated  velocity. 

For  Sale:  A  dwelling-house  on  York  Street.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  localities  of  the  town,  in  the  midst 
of  a  refined  and  enlightened  community.  The  Colored 
Methodist  Society  contemplates  erecting  a  house  of  wor- 
ship immediately  opposite,  which  fact  will  commend  itself 
to  all  religiously  disposed  minds. 

Finally,  as  emphasizing  the  "self-complacency  and 
self-satisfaction  of  the  average  Nantucketer"  concern- 
ing his  native  island,  the  following  instances  may  be 
cited : 


Quaint  Nantucketers  299 

A  Nantucket  schoolboy  being  asked  to  mention  the 
situation  of  Alaska,  located  it  as  being  "in  the  north- 
west corner  of  off-island!" 

Another  began  a  composition  thus:  "Napoleon  was 
a  great  man;  he  was  a  great  soldier  and  a  great  states- 
man— but  he  was  an  off -islander ! "     Alas,  Napoleon! 

Devoted  as  ever  to  their  island  home,  as  to  a  fond 
and  loving  mother,  Nantucketers  have  at  length,  to  a 
great  extent,  become  cosmopolitan,  for  there  is  not  a 
corner  of  the  earth  into  which  they  have  not  had  access, 
and  in  which  they  have  not  maintained  their  reputation, 
and  flourished  accordingly.  But  times  have  also 
changed.  The  sea  which  still  laps  their  island  shores 
is  no  longer  freighted  with  an  argosy  of  ships;  Hygeia 
has  usurped  the  rule  of  Neptune,  and  association  with 
thousands  of  health-seeking  strangers,  year  after  year, 
has  wellnigh  neutralized  the  quaintness  of  Nantucket- 
ers, which  was  once  their  birthright  and  their  heritage. 

The  lapse  of  time  and  the  changes  which  it  has 
wrought  have  relegated  most  of  the  old  island  customs 
into  desuetude.  No  longer  does  the  large  blue  flag 
floating  from  the  south  tower  announce  the  home- 
coming of  a  whaler  from  foreign  seas,  nor  do  the  sheep- 
shearing  festivities  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  islanders 
as  in  days  of  yore ;  no  more  do  the  whirring  arms  of  the 
old  mill  grind  the  home-grown  grist,  nor  is  even  the 
fish-horn  of  the  town-crier  heard  again  as  it  re-echoed 
but  a  few  years  ago  in  discordant  blasts.  But  one  old 
custom  remains — the  ringing  of  the  belfry-bell  at  7  a.m., 
noon,  and  9  p.m.,  as  if  to  emphasize  time's  rapid  flight. 

The  old  "characters,"  too,  who  in  one  way  and 
another  gave  piquancy  if  not  picturesqueness  to  the 
island's  life,  have  all  passed  away, — the  quartette  of 
town-criers,  the  weird  sisters  Newbegin,  Mrs.  McCleave 


300  Nantucket 

and  her  museum,  and  others,  mayhap  forgotten. 
Memories  and  regrets  are  associated  with  each  one  of 
them,  but  sic  vita  est.  Who  does  not  remember  Billy 
Clark,  the  genial,  the  zealous,  the  indefatigable? 
Drake  in  his  Nooks  and  Corners  of  Massachusetts  thus 
refers  to  him : 

This  functionary  I  met,  swelling  with  importance,  but  a 
trifle  blown  from  the  frequent  sounding  of  his  clarion,  to  wit, 
a  japanned  fish-horn.  Met  him,  did  I  say?  I  beg  the  in- 
dulgence of  the  reader.  Wherever  I  wandered  in  my 
rambles,  he  was  sure  to  turn  the  corner  just  ahead  of  me, 
or  to  spring  from  the  covert  of  some  blind  alley.  He  was 
one  of  those  who,  Macy  says,  knew  all  the  other  inhabitants 
of  the  island ;  me  he  knew  for  a  stranger.  He  stopped  short. 
First  he  wound  a  terrible  blast  of  his  horn:  T-o-o-t,  t-o-o-t, 
t-o-o-t!!  It  echoed  down  the  street  like  the  discordant 
braying  of  a  donkey.  This  he  followed  with  the  lusty 
ringing  of  a  large  dinner-bell,  peal  on  peal,  until  I  was  ready 
to  exclaim  with  the  Moor,  "Silence  that  dreadful  bell:  it 
frights  the  isle  from  her  propriety!"  Then  placing  the 
fish-horn  under  his  arm,  and  taking  the  bell  by  the  tongue, 
he  delivered  himself  of  his  formula.  I  am  not  likely  to 
forget  it:  "Two  boats  a  day!  Burgess's  meat  auction 
this  evening!  Corned  beef!  Boston  Theatre,  positively 
last  night  this  evening!"  He  was  gone,  and  I  heard  bell 
and  horn  in  next  street.  He  was  the  life  of  Nantucket 
while  I  was  there ;  the  only  inhabitant  I  saw  moving  faster 
than  a  moderate  walk. 

Poor  Billy!  Having  kept  Nantucketers  alive  for 
forty  years,  he  at  length  wore  himself  out,  and  died  in 
1909. 

He  had  three  contemporaries,  in  some  respects  as 
quaint  as  himself,  viz:  William  B.  Ray,  Alvin  Hull,  and 
Charles  H.  Chase;  and  each  had  his  own  following, 


Billy  Clark,  Town  Crier 
Photograph  by  H.  S.  Wyer 


Quaint  Nantucketers  301 

while  all  were  useful,  obliging,  and  popular.  The  last 
named  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  eyesight.  A  good 
story  is  told  of  him  to  the  effect  that  when  making  one 
of  his  announcements  in  front  of  an  hotel  where  a 
number  of  young  ladies  were  sitting,  one  of  the  girls 
dared  another  to  ask  the  crier  where  he  got  his  bell. 
Mr.  Chase  overheard  the  remark,  and  when  the  young 
lady  in  question  asked  the  crier  where  he  got  his  bell, 
with  a  polite  bow  he  replied:  "I  got  my  bell,  young 
woman,  where  you  got  your  manners — at  the  brass 
foundry!"     Ding-dong!  Ding-dong!' 

Mrs.  McCleave — or  more  familiarly  "Lizy  Ann" — 
was  one  of  several  sisters,  all  of  whom  were  more 
or  less  eccentric;  she  was  not  only  the  most  peculiar, 
but  possessed  the  strongest  character,  combining  with 
her  eccentricities  considerable  native  shrewdness  and 
tartness,  and  withal  a  kindly  disposition.  She  lived 
in  Upper  Main  Street,  beyond  Gardner  Street,  where 
her  house  became  a  Mecca  for  visitors.  She  came 
by  slow  and  natural  stages  into  her  special  field  as 
**  showman,"  beginning  with  a  few  articles  (brought 
home  by  her  husband  from  his  whaling  voyages  as 
a  sea-captain)  which  she  was  gradually  induced  to 
show  and  explain  to  more  and  more  people,  while, 
at  the  same  time,  the  number  of  her  curiosities 
constantly  increased.  Some  of  her  visitors,  amused 
by  the  "lecture"  into  which  her  explanations  grew, 
sent  additions  of  a  nondescript  nature  to  her  col- 
lection. Thus  it  embraced  things  of  all  sorts, — 
the  veriest  trash,  as  well  as  really  rare  and  choice 
articles — but  Mrs.  McCleave  exhibited  all  with  impar- 
tial appreciation.  Of  course  she  was  herself  more 
remarkable  than  anything  in  her  collection,  and  was 

'  Godfrey. 


302  Nantucket 

probably  well  aware  of  the  fact.  She  ruled  her  audi- 
ences with  absolute  despotism,  usually  selecting  some 
one  person  as  the  butt  of  her  sallies  and  the  recipient 
of  her  attentions. 

She  expected  laughter,  and  desired  it  at  certain  parts 
of  her  lecture,  but  woe  betide  the  one  who  laughed  in 
the  wrong  place!  She  was  known  to  have  dismissed 
from  the  room  a  prominent  summer  visitor  to  the 
island  because  he  had  made  that  mistake,  and  no 
apologies  on  his  part  would  have  reinstated  him  in 
her  good  graces.  Many  good  anecdotes  are  told 
of  her,  but  limited  space  prevents  their  reproduction 
here. 

She  had  an  ingenious  way  of  ridding  herself  of 
her  audience  at  the  end  of  her  lecture  by  invit- 
ing them  downstairs  to  see  the  cat,  when,  finding 
themselves  at  the  front  door,  they  could  only  take 
their  departure.  She  died  about  twelve  or  fifteen 
years  ago. 

A  few  words  must  be  devoted  to  the  three  weird 
sisters,  well-known  to  all  Nantucketers  of  a  generation 
ago  as  "the  Newbegins."  These  weak-minded  but 
worthy  old  souls  were  lifelong  members  of  the  Society 
of  Friends.  They  were  so  eccentric  that  the  islanders 
regarded  them  as  curiosities,  and  frequently  enter- 
tained their  visiting  friends  or  strangers  from  the 
mainland  by  taking  them  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  three 
quaint  old  ladies,  who  received  all  comers  graciously, 
and  on  the  departure  of  their  guests  invariably  asked 
them  to  "come  again." 

Phebe  Newbegin,  the  eldest  sister,  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety-four,  Mary  at  ninety-three,  and  Ann  at 
eighty-one. 

They  were  buried  in  the  Wilburite  section  of  the 


Quaint  Nantucketers  303 

Friends'  burying-ground  at  Nantucket,  but  the  place 
of  their  interment  is  unmarked  by  any  gravestone. ' 

Nantucketers  not  only  resent  as  an  aspersion,  but 
categorically  deny,  that  there  is  any  quaintness  asso- 
ciated with  them ;  but  they  might  as  well  repudiate  the 
fact  that  there  are  certain  racial  peculiarities  which 
differentiate  one  race  from  another,  or  that  individuals 
can  conceal  inherited  differences  between  them  which 
are  as  characteristic  as  indelible.  The  old  stock  from 
which  they  have  descended  was  resourceful,  honorable, 
capable,  and  self-reliant,  and  its  modem  representatives 
have  inherited  the  same  elements  of  character  from  their 
ancestors;  but  they  have  also  had  transmitted  to  them 
the  maritime  proclivities  of  their  forefathers,  and, 
generally  segregated  from  the  outside  world  as  they 
have  long  been,  in  an  insular  environment,  they  have 
lived  like  one  large  family,  in  which  the  peculiarities 
of  the  original  stock  have  been  bred  in  and  in  without 
much  external  variation.  They  have  developed,  there- 
fore, into  a  people  capable  of  being  distinguishable  by 
certain  characteristics  which  are  apparent  to  every 
off-islander  during  five  minutes'  conversation.  Un- 
conventional or  eccentric  might  describe  their  idio- 
syncrasies, but  quaintness  is  more  expressive,  and 
delightfully  quaint  they  are.  ^ 

'  Those  desirous  of  obtaining  more  particulars  of  these  eccentric 
sisters  will  find  a  very  interesting  narrative  concerning  them  in  IMiss 
Mary  Catherine  Lee's  volume  entitled  An  Island  Plant,  1896;  also  a 
fully  detailed  paper  by  the  writer  in  the  Nantucket  Inquirer  and  Mirror 
of  September  2,  191 1. 

^  The  anecdotes  recorded  in  this  chapter  have  been  selected  from  a 
most  interesting  paper  on  "The  Humor  of  Nantucket,"  by  Mr.  Wm. 
F.  Macy,  whose  courtesy  has  permitted  the  writer  to  reproduce  them 
here. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

LIFE-SAVING  SERVICE  AND  WRECKS 

It  is  difficult  to  convey  a  just  conception  of  the 
general  scope  and  character  of  this  invaluable  service, 
founded  in  1871,  or  even  to  enumerate  the  beneficent 
offices  which  it  performs.  While  fulfilling  the  functions 
usually  allotted  to  several  different  agencies,  it  rescues 
the  shipwrecked  by  both  the  principal  methods  which 
human  ingenuity  has  devised  for  that  purpose;  it  fur- 
nishes them  the  subsequent  succor  which  elsewhere 
would  be  afforded  by  shipwrecked  mariners'  societies; 
it  guards  the  lives  of  persons  in  peril  of  drowning  by 
falling  into  the  water  from  piers  and  wharves  in  the  har- 
bors of  populous  cities;  it  nightly  patrols  the  dangerous 
coasts  for  the  early  discovery  of  wrecks,  and  the  hasten- 
ing of  relief;  it  places  over  peculiarly  dangerous  points 
upon  the  rivers  and  lakes  a  sentry  prepared  to  send 
instant  relief  to  those  who  incur  the  hazard  of  capsizing 
in  boats ;  it  conducts  to  places  of  safety  those  imperilled 
in  their  homes  by  the  torrents  of  flood,  and  conveys  food 
to  those  imprisoned  in  their  houses  by  inundation  and 
threatened  with  famine;  unaided,  it  annually  saves, 
from  total  or  partial  destruction,  hundreds  of  stranded 
vessels  with  their  cargoes,  and  assists  in  saving  scores 
of  others;  it  protects  wrecked  property,  after  landing, 

304 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks       305 

from  the  ravage  of  the  elements  and  the  rapine  of  plun- 
derers; it  averts  numerous  disasters  by  its  flashing 
signals  of  warning  to  vessels  standing  in  danger;  it 
extricates  vessels  unwarily  caught  in  perilous  positions ; 
it  assists  the  customs  service  in  collecting  the  revenues 
of  the  government;  it  pickets  the  coasts  with  a  guard, 
which  prevents  smuggling,  and,  in  time  of  war,  surprise 
by  hostile  forces.  In  addition  to  these  inestimable 
services,  it  has  also  rendered  valuable  aid  to  scientific 
research  by  contributing  to  the  National  Museum 
rare  specimens  of  marine  zoology;  has  saved  from  de- 
struction by  fire  many  hotels,  dwellings,  mills,  and  other 
structures;  has  detected  and  prevented  numerous 
burglaries  and  robberies,  and  has  assisted  in  many 
directions  in  the  performance  of  various  and  manifold 
incidental  duties  and  emergencies.  ^ 

"The  Sea  and  Lake  coasts  of  the  United  States, 
exclusive  of  the  coast  of  Alaska,  have  an  extent  of 
more  than  10,000  miles." 

In  addition  to  the  life-saving  stations  on  the  Mas- 
sachusetts coast,  it  is  also  guarded  by  the  Massachu- 
setts Humane  Society,  founded  by  charter  granted  in 
1 79 1,  by  the  State  Legislature  "for  the  purpose  of 
recognizing  and  rewarding  all  humane,  daring,  and 
gallant  exploits  of  individual  citizens  of  the  State, 
wherever  performed."  This  admirable  society,  during 
the  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  of  its  existence,  has 
been  the  means  of  saving  many  lives  wherever  it  is 
represented,  and  many  heroic  Nantucketers  have  been 
rewarded  by  gold  and  silver  medals  from  the  society, 
bestowed  for  deeds  of  unselfish  and  conspicuous  daring. 

In  1831,  some  fourteen  humane  houses  were  built  by 
private  enterprise,  provisioned  and  placed  at  various 

'  U.  S.  Life-Saving  SerAce  Report  for  igio. 


3o6  Nantucket 

points  around  the  island  so  that  shipwrecked  mariners 
might  find  food  and  shelter  near  at  hand. 

The  boathouses  of  the  Humane  Society,  well  equipped 
and  always  ready,  are  placed  at  Sconset,  Smith's 
Point,  Tuckemuck,  Quidnet,  Forked  Pond,  and  at  the 
head  of  Hummock  Pond. 

In  consequence  of  this  extra  protection,  the  Govern- 
ment has  located  its  life-saving  stations  only  at  points 
where  wrecks  are  unusually  frequent.  There  are  four 
of  these  stations  on  the  Nantucket  coast,  viz :  the  old- 
est, at  Surf-Side,  founded  in  1874;  one  at  Great  Neck, 
in  the  Madeket  district,  six  miles  west  of  Surf-Side;  one 
at  Muskeget  Island,  near  its  western  end ;  and  one  at 
Coskata,  two  miles  and  a  half  south  of  Nantucket  Light, 
at  Great  Point. 

According  to  the  recent  report,  every  dangerous 
section  of  the  shore  line  is  patrolled  by  a  system  includ- 
ing two  hundred  and  seventy-eight  stations,  divided 
into  thirteen  districts,  of  which  the  Nantucket  group 
constitutes  District  No.  2. 

The  station  structures  now  being  erected  are  larger 
and  more  durable  than  the  earlier  ones,  and  better 
conform  to  modem  requirements  and  conveniences. 
They  cost  on  an  average  from  $10,000  to  $15,000  each. 
Telephone  service  has  been  extended  to  the  greater 
portion  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  active  season  on 
this  coast  is  from  August  to  May  31st. 

Continuous  outlook  is  kept  at  all  stations  both  by 
day  and  night,  with  beach  patrol  during  hours  of  dark- 
ness and  in  foggy  or  thick  weather. 

The  night-patrol  is  divided  into  four  watches,  one 
from  sunset  imtil  8  p.m.,  one  from  8  to  12,  one  from  12 
to  4,  and  one  from  4  to  sunrise.  Two  surf  men  are 
delegated  to  each  watch.     They  set  out  in  different 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks       307 

directions,  as  near  the  shore  as  possible,  and  walk  to 
the  ends  of  their  respective  beats.  One  patrolling 
surfman  when  he  meets  another  from  the  next  station 
gives  him  a  metallic  check  marked  with  his  station  and 
crew  number,  and  receives  a  similar  one  in  exchange. 
The  checks  on  the  return  of  the  men  are  delivered 
up  to  the  keeper,  who  keeps  a  record  of  their-  due 
transference. 

The  magnificent  work  rendered  by  this  inestimable 
service  in  the  saving  of  human  lives  and  property  may 
be  partially  computed  from  the  following  analysis: 

SECOND   DISTRICT,    COAST    OF   MASSACHUSETTS 


Documented 

Undocu- 
mented 

Total 

Vessels  involved 

77 

192 

269 

Vessels  totally  lost 

II 

4 

15 

Persons  on  board 

563 

518 

1,081 

Persons  lost 

3 

3 

Persons  succored  at  stations 

51 

44 

95 

Days'  succor  afforded 

77 

44 

121 

Value  of  vessels 

$562,200 

$112,815 

$675,015 

Value  of  cargoes 

$133,430 

$575 

$134,005 

Total  value  of  property  involved 

$695,630 

$113,390 

$809,020 

Value  of  property  saved 

$586,655 

$96,980 

$683,635 

Value  of  property  lost 

$108,975 

$16,410 

$125,385 

The  above  figures  represent  the  results  for  the  year 
19 10,  as  appearing  in  the  official  report  with  regard  to 
the  Massachusetts  coast. 

These  figures  speak  for  themselves.  There  is  no 
branch  of  the  Public  Civil  Service  more  entitled  to 
generous  recognition  and  liberal  reward  than  is  the 
Life-saving  Service.  Its  officers  and  crews  are  happily 
exempt  from  political  chicanery,  and  the  unparalleled 
and  peril-fraught  duties  which  these  brave  and  dauntless 


3o8  Nantucket 

seafarers  have  to  perform  involve  no  chance  of  their 
positions  in  any  way  approaching  governmental  sine- 
cures. These  noble,  self-sacrificing  men  are  selected 
for  their  noteworthy  physical  strength  and  endurance. 
In  their  exercise  of  perpetual  vigilance,  heroic  devotion, 
fidelity  to  duty,  and  valorous  intrepidity,  they  are 
unrivalled  by  any  other  service  in  the  country,  and 
should  at  least  be  as  well  remunerated  as  any.  Risking 
their  lives  for  the  good  of  humanity  every  day,  the 
Government  should  see  to  it  that  an  ample  pension  is 
provided  for  the  widows  and  orphans  whom  they  may 
leave  behind,  and  for  themselves  when  they  are  inca- 
pacitated for  further  duty. 

Wrecks.  Arthur  H.  Gardner,  in  his  well-known  and 
authoritative  w^ork  entitled  A  List  of  the  Wrecks  around 
Nantucket,  says: 

The  chapter  of  wrecks  is  perhaps  one  of  the  saddest  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the  history  of  Nan- 
tucket. Lying  as  it  does  directly  in  the  track  of  vessels 
plying  between  the  principal  American  ports  north  and 
south  of  the  island,  the  waves  which  dash  upon  its  barren 
shores,  or  break  in  angry  foam  upon  the  shoals  and  rips 
nearby,  have  reaped  a  harvest  of  shipwreck  and  death 
almost  unparalleled  elsewhere  upon  the  American  coast. 

Up  to  1877,  it  has  been  computed  that  over  five  hun- 
dred shipwrecks  have  occurred  around  the  coast  of 
Nantucket  Island  from  the  time  of  its  first  settlement 
by  the  white  men.  This  number  has  at  least  been 
recorded,  but  how  many  noble  ships,  sailing  hopefully 
and  well  have  unexpectedly  struck  on  to  the  treacherous 
shoals  and  have  become  total  wrecks,  while  those  on 
board  have  been  engulfed  within  the  ruthless    deep, 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks       309 

never  to  be  heard  from  again  until  "the  sea  gives  up 
its  dead"!  Floating  hither  and  thither,  or  sunk  in  the 
pitiless  sand,  here  a  rudder,  there  a  broken  spar,  here 
a  figure-head,  and  there  a  stem-board,  are  all  that 
remain  to  tell,  in  silence,  of  the  terrible  story  of  those 
who  "go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships."  Imagination  can 
alone  supply  the  ghastly  details  of  such  awe-inspiring 
submergences. 

So  far  as  the  history  of  the  island  extends,  the  first 
recorded  shipwreck  on  its  shores  occurred  in  1664,  when 
a  vessel  sailing  from  Martha's  Vineyard  to  Boston 
was  wrecked  at  Nantucket,  and  all  on  board  either 
met  a  watery  grave  or  were  massacred  by  the  Indians. 
"Amongst  those  murdered  was  a  Christian  Indian, 
named  Joel,  a  senior  of  Harvard  College,  and  son  of  the 
Indian  preacher,  Hiacomes."' 

Between  this  year  and  1800,  about  thirty  shipwrecks 
in  all  are  recorded ;  but  here  space  will  permit  particular 
reference  to  only  a  few  of  the  more  important  or  re- 
markable associated  with  a  later  period. 

From  1664  to  1800,  wrecks  were  comparatively  un- 
frequent  around  Nantucket  Island,  and  for  several 
reasons.  At  the  early  period  of  the  white  settlement, 
and  for  many  years  afterwards,  the  North  American 
continent  was  very  thinly  inhabited,  and  then  only 
in  a  few  places.  The  immigrants  were  mainly  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  had  little  if  any  interest 
or  experience  in  seafaring  industries  beyond  the  use  of 
row-boats  or  canoes  for  short  transit  or  for  fishing 
purposes.  Commerce  on  the  high  seas  was  excluded 
by  their  environment,  and  the  breaking-up  and  culti- 
vation of  the  land,  added  to  domestic  requirements, 

'  Arthur  H.  Gardner,  opus  cit.,  to  which  the  writer  is  much  indebted 
for  many  facts  in  this  chapter. 


310  Nantucket 

almost  absolutely  monopolized  all  their  care  and  atten- 
tion. This  will  account  for  the  paucity  of  wrecks 
during  most  of  the  first  century  of  their  residence  in 
the  New  World,  and  will  also  serve  to  explain  the 
meagerness  of  the  records. 

During  the  first  ten  years  or  so  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  almost  as  many  wrecks  had  occurred  on  the 
Nantucket  coast  as  during  the  previous  hundred  years ; 
thus  showing  how  maritime  progress  had  increased 
with  the  increase  of  population  and  the  opening  up  of 
the  country's  resources. 

Out  of  the  five  hundred  wrecks  recorded  by  Mr. 
Gardner  up  to  1877,  many  are  of  thrilling  interest, 
and  contain  the  saddest  narratives  of  heroism  and  of 
resignation  to  the  inevitable.  One  or  two  may  be 
referred  to  here. 

On  January  21,  18 12,  an  English  ship,  Sir  Sidney 
Smith,  a  prize  to  the  American  privateer  General  Arm- 
strong of  New  York,  struck  on  Bass  Rip,  off  Siasconset, 
and  all  on  board  perished  within  sight  of  the  people  on 
shore,  who  were  unable  to  render  any  assistance.  The 
crew  took  refuge  in  the  shrouds,  and  some,  from  time 
to  time,  were  seen  to  fall  off  into  the  water,  as  their 
strength  gave  out  or  as  they  became  numbed  with 
cold,  until,  finally,  the  vessel  rolled  over  and  sank, 
burying  the  remainder  with  her.  Notwithstanding 
the  extreme  cold,  the  mail  packet  Captain  Childs,  with 
a  crew  of  volunteers,  started  to  their  relief,  but,  on 
account  of  the  weather,  was  compelled  to  put  back. 
Nothing  was  ever  recovered  from  the  wreck,  although 
she  had  on  board  a  very  valuable  cargo. 

Nov.  27,  1842  (Sunday).  Ship  Joseph  Starhuck  left 
Nantucket   with   a  favorable  breeze,   in  tow  of  steamer 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks      311 

Telegraph  for  Edgartown,  where  she  was  to  load  and  proceed 
on  a  whaHng  voyage.  There  were  on  board,  in  addition 
to  the  full  complement  of  hands  belonging  to  her,  a  number 
of  ladies  who  were  intending  to  accompany  their  friends  to 
Edgartown  before  taking  final  leave  of  them.  The  wind 
soon  came  out  ahead,  and  blew  so  strongly  that  the  steamer 
could  no  longer  make  any  headway.  The  towlines  were 
then  loosened,  and  the  ship  came  to  anchor  within  about  a 
mile  of  the  Tuckernuck  Shoal  lightboat,  while  the  steamer 
returned  to  the  wharf.  In  the  afternoon  the  wind  increased 
to  a  gale,  and  the  ship  being  light  rode  so  violently  that 
one  chain  cable  after  another  parted,  and  she  drove  furi- 
ously from  her  moorings  in  an  easterly  direction.  To  pre- 
vent her  going  to  sea  in  her  then  unprepared  condition, 
the  mizzenmast  was  cut  away,  the  foresail  set,  and  every 
effort  made  to  return  to  port,  but  so  fiercely  was  the  gale 
blowing  from  the  northwest  that  the  attempt  failed.  The 
ship  drifted  toward  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Bar  until 
midnight,  when  she  struck  and  rolled  over,  the  seas  break- 
ing over  her  frightfully,  and  sending  volumes  of  spray  far 
above  the  masthead.  Next  morning  at  daybreak  she  was 
discovered  from  town  in  this  predicament:  on  her  beam 
ends,  her  single  sail  still  offering  a  mark  for  the  hurricane; 
her  hulk,  with  its  living  freight,  lifting  and  falling  with 
crushing  force.  Of  course  it  was  immediately  resolved 
by  the  townsfolk  to  put  forth  every  possible  effort  toward 
saving  the  lives  of  those  on  board,  and  before  9  o'clock 
the  steamer  Massachusetts,  manned  by  a  party  of  volunteers, 
was  on  her  way  to  their  relief.  To  many  it  seemed  a  hope- 
less adventure.  The  wreck  lay  about  four  miles  from  town, 
and  two  miles  from  the  nearest  strand,  while  the  sea  upon 
the  farther  edge  of  the  Bar  where  she  lay,  and  from  the  vast 
extent  of  shoals  nearby,  ran  almost  mountains  high,  now 
rising  into  columns  of  angry  foam,  and  anon  leaving  the 
subjacent  ground  nearly  bare  of  water.  Nevertheless, 
the  steamer  plunged  through  the  accumulated  perils  before 
her,  and  in  half  an  hour  was  made  fast  to  the  lee-side  of  the 


312  Nantucket 

ill-fated  vessel  by  a  warp  necessarily  of  considerable  length. 
The  paddles  were  kept  backing  sufficiently  to  keep  the  hne 
taut,  and  the  people  on  board  the  ship,  to  the  number  of 
thirty-five,  were  taken  off  by  means  of  a  single  whale-boat, 
which  passed  to  and  fro  no  less  than  five  times,  transferred 
to  the  steamer,  and  returned  to  their  friends  in  town,  who 
had  suffered  the  most  intense  anxiety.  So  excessively  cold 
was  the  weather  that  the  decks  and  rigging  of  the  ship  were 
coated  with  ice. 

The  Joseph  Starbuck  was  a  beautiful  and  highly  valued 
ship.  She  was  built  at  Brant  Point  in  1838,  of  live  oak, 
and  was  copper  fastened.  She  had  made  but  one  vo3^age, 
and  had  now  been  fitted  out  for  a  second  in  the  most  liberal 
manner.     The  vessel  was  insured  for  $24,000. 

The  ship  eventually  went  to  pieces,  nothing  of  any 
material  value  being  saved. 

Two  of  the  most  lamentable  and  terrible  wrecks 
recorded  as  occurring  on  the  Nantucket  coast  happened 
about  the  same  time,  during  December,  1865,  viz:  those 
of  the  liaynes  and  the  Newton.  They  are  thus  de- 
scribed by  Mr,  Arthur  H.  Gardner: 

December  22d,  schooner  Haynes,  of  and  for  Boston, 
from  the  "West  Indies,  loaded  with  logwood,  ran  ashore  at 
the  south  side  of  the  island,  near  the  head  of  Hummock 
Pond.  The  crew  abandoned  her,  and  perished  in  attempting 
to  reach  the  shore.  Had  they  remained  on  board  all  would 
have  been  saved.  On  the  following  Sunday,  a  body  iden- 
tified as  that  of  the  steward  was  found  upon  the  beach. 
The  cause  of  her  getting  ashore  was  unknown,  but  it  was 
supposed  that  her  captain  mistook  Sankaty  light  for  Gay 
Head,  and  ran  accordingly.  The  position  of  the  vessel 
warranted  this  conjecture,  as  she  lay  about  as  far  west  of 
Sankaty  as  she  should  be  from  Gay  Head  on  entering 
Vineyard  Sound.  Her  cargo  was  discharged  and  carted 
to  town,  but  the  vessel  went  to  pieces. 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks      313 

December  25th,  ship  Newton,  Captain  F.  G.  Herting,  of 
and  for  Hamburg,  from  New  York,  with  a  cargo  of  kerosene, 
staves,  rosin,  fustic,  etc.,  went  to  pieces  early  in  the  morning 
on  the  south  side  of  the  island,  to  the  eastward  of  Madde- 
quecham  Pond.  One  of  the  crew  was  found  about  half-a- 
mile  inland,  naked,  with  his  face  buried  in  the  sand.  He 
had  probably  reached  the  shore  by  swimming  and  started 
for  the  nearest  house,  but  perished  on  the  way.  He  was 
about  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  of  age.  On  his  right  arm 
were  the  initials  "J.  K."  marked  with  India  ink,  and  on  his 
left  arm  "C.  U."  He  was  afterwards  identified  as  the 
second  mate  of  the  Newton.  The  beach  for  miles  to  the 
eastward  of  the  wreck  was  covered  with  fragments,  appar- 
ently the  result  of  an  explosion,  which  many  thought  must 
have  occurred,  and  everything  seemed  to  favor  such  an 
opinion.  Large  spars  were  broken  off  short,  as  was  also 
an  iron  truss  about  the  size  of  a  man's  arm,  and  a  large 
iron  tank  lay  high  upon  the  beach,  one  or  two  hundred 
yards  from  the  wreck.  The  breakers  were  filled  with  bar- 
rels of  kerosene,  fragments  of  broken  barrels,  and  other 
articles  of  which  her  cargo  consisted,  while  her  iron  hull 
itself  seemed  to  be  crushed  like  an  egg-shell,  into  a  shapeless 
mass.  Startling  coincidence  that  within  a  little  more  than 
forty-eight  hours,  two  vessels  should  thus  land  on  our 
shores,  and  not  a  soul  survive  to  tell  the  mournful  story. 
Many  conjectures  were  rife  as  to  the  cause  of  both  disasters, 
but  as  there  was  not  a  single  survivor  spared  to  tell  the 
tale,  the  whole  affair  must  always  remain  shrouded  in 
mystery. 

Along  the  line  of  the  beach,  stretching  as  far  as  Quidnet, 
dead  bodies  were  to  be  seen  floating  in  the  surf,  and  after- 
wards thrown  upon  the  sands.  Seventeen  bodies  in  all  were 
washed  ashore,  the  most  of  which  were  identified  as  belong- 
ing to  the  Newton.  These  were  entombed  in  the  Unitarian 
burying-ground,  and  afterwards  buried  side  by  side,  each 
grave  being  numbered  according  to  the  order  in  which  the 
body  came  ashore.     Very  solemn  and  imposing  ceremonies 


314  Nantucket 

were  conducted  in  the  Methodist  church  on  the  following 
Sunday  afternoon,  after  which  the  citizens,  with  others 
who  were  inclined,  formed  in  front  of  t  e  church  and  walked 
to  the  cemetery,  where  hundreds,  including  many  ladies, 
gathered  round  the  tomb  to  pay  their  last  tributes  of  respect 
to  the  unknown  dead.  Upon  evidence  furnished  by  the 
ship's  agent,  it  was  ascertained  that  Captain  Herting  was 
a  freemason,  and  his  remains  were  taken  in  charge  by 
"Union  Lodge,"  and  buried  from  their  room  the  following 
afternoon  with  masonic  rites. 

The  Newton  was  an  iron  ship  of  699  tons  burthen,  and 
nearly  new,  having  made  but  one  voyage.  About  2200 
barrels  of  kerosene,  together  with  a  quantity  of  fustic,  etc., 
were  saved,  and  the  wreck  was  subsequently  sold  at  auction, 
as  she  lay,  to  New  Bedford  purchasers  for  $510.' 

A  few  more  recent  wrecks  may  be  briefly  referred  to 
as  affording  the  highest  possible  testimony  to  the  self- 
sacrificing  bravery,  and  endurance  of  the  heroic  men 
who  constitute  the  crews  of  the  Life-saving  Service 
which  guards  our  Atlantic  coast. 

To  the  ever  alert  Coskata  crew  came  the  report  of  a 
flashlight  having  been  seen  on  the  night  of  January  20, 
1892,  in  the  direction  of  the  Rose  and  Crown  Shoal. 
With  no  object  to  guide  them,  and  unable  to  see  their 
course,  these  fearless  fellows  shot  their  boat  into  the 
seething  ocean,  and  hastened  with  all  their  might  for 
twelve  miles,  before  the  wind,  until  they  came  up  with 
an  English  ship,  the  H.  P.  Kirkham,  in  distress,  from 
which,  but  one  hour  before  the  time  she  sank,  to  rise 
no  more,  they  rescued  seven  men.  But  this  was  not 
all;  for  the  life-savers  had  now  fourteen  men  in  their 
boat,  the  wind  was  dead  ahead,  and  it  was  only  after 

'  Some  details  of  awful  whaling  experiences  will  be  found  in  Chap- 
ter VI. 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks      315 

perhaps  the  fiercest  struggle  on  record,  lasting  almost 
twenty-four  hours,  that  they  succeeded  in  landing 
themselves  and  those  whom  they  had  rescued  on  their 
own  sandy  shore.  Such  a  feat  cannot  be  erased  from 
history,  and  it  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  their 
gallant  rescue  was  rewarded  by  medals  of  honor  from 
the  Humane  Society. 

Another  wreck,  but  one,  alas,  from  which  it  was 
possible  to  save  only  two  lives,  was  that  of  the  schooner 
/.  B.  Wither  spoon,  which  was  stranded  near  Surf -Side 
on  January  10,  1886.  It  was  impossible  to  launch  the 
life-saving  boat  in  such  a  sea,  but  the  men  were  deter- 
mined to  save  if  possible,  and  actually  shot  a  life-line 
over  the  doomed  vessel  five  times  before  any  of  the  crew 
could  avail  themselves  of  it.  There  were  nine  souls 
on  board,  but  of  these  only  two  were  saved,  although 
the  life-savers  stood  by  the  vessel  nearly  all  day,  doing 
their  utmost. 

On  the  night  of  February  l,  1908,  a  terrible  stormy 
night  with  a  below  zero  temperature,  keeper  Norcross 
of  the  Coskata  Life-saving  Station  discovered  a  vessel 
drifting  to  destruction  toward  the  bar,  nearly  in  front 
of  his  own  station.  The  patrols  were  called  in,  and  the 
surf -boat  was  got  ready ;  but  no  boat  could  be  launched 
in  such  tumbling  furious  seas,  and  the  darkness  was 
intense.  Carting  the  larger  of  the  two  surf-boats  to 
a  point  on  the  beach  directly  to  leeward  of  the  drifting 
ship,  the  crew  waited  for  an  hour,  while  the  cruel  wind 
stung  and  cut  their  faces.  As  daylight  broke,  the 
word  was  given  to  launch,  and  every  man  sprang  to  his 
station,  but  at  every  attempt  to  float  the  boat  they 
were  hurled  back  upon  the  beach.  Again  and  again 
they  tried,  but  with  similar  results,  and  with  their 
clothing  frozen  and  covered  with  ice,  they  could  only 


3i6  Nantucket 

wait  for  a  slight  lull  in  the  gale.  They  could  see  the 
waves  strike  the  brow  of  the  wreck,  a  mile  away,  and 
they  watched  the  spray  fly  in  clouds  almost  mast-high. 

A  fishing  steamer  sailed  up  the  inner  harbor  about 
noon,  on  board  of  which  was  the  well  known  Captain 
Jesse  Eldredge,  a  former  member  of  the  Coskata  crew, 
and  one  of  the  best  surfmen  on  the  island.  He  volun- 
teered to  assist,  and  Captain  Norcross  gladly  accepted 
his  service.  With  a  vigorous  and  united  effort  they  at 
length  vsucceeded  in  launching  the  boat;  while  the  icy 
water  flew  over  the  living  freight,  drenching  the  crew 
through  and  through,  and  nearly  half-filling  the 
boat,  and  after  an  hour's  hard  work  they  reached  the 
brig.  To  board  the  endangered  craft  was  impossible, 
but  they  worked  the  boat  under  the  lee,  and  took  off 
the  Captain  and  crew  of  nine  men,  the  Captain's  wife, 
and  a  year-old  babe.  They  began  the  return  journey, 
which  was  safely  accomplished.  The  rescued  family 
and  crew  were  soon  made  comfortable,  and  the  brig 
turned  out  to  be  the  Fredericka  Schepp,  belonging  to 
Mystic,  Conn.,  sailing  from  South  Amboy  to  Vinal 
Haven  with  coal. 

On  December  i6th  and  17th,  19 10,  during  a  tempestu- 
ous sea  and  zero  atmosphere,  associated  with  a  sixty- 
mile  gale,  Captain  Norcross  and  his  men  were  called 
out  of  their  warm  cots.  Shortly  before  3  a.m.,  one  of 
the  night  patrols  had  seen  a  light  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  shore,  and  had  hastened  to  give  the 
alarm.  With  a  cheer  the  men  ran  their  boat  out,  and 
with  some  difficulty  managed  to  launch  her,  and  by 
daybreak  had  rescued  the  crew  and  the  mate  (who 
had  sustained  an  accident  and  couldn't  help  himself). 
The  vessel  was  the  Thomas  B.  Garland,  bound  for 
Salem  with  a  cargo  of  hard  coal. 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks       317 

Once  more,  on  November  16,  191 1,  a  call  came  from 
Superintendent  Bowley  of  the  2d  Life-saving  Station, 
Cape  Cod,  saying  a  small  vessel  was  in  distress  off 
Nantucket.  Keeper  Norcross  sped  to  the  lighthouse 
and  saw  the  vessel  about  four  miles  from  the  shore. 
The  wind  was  blowing  a  gale,  and  the  surf  was  terrible. 
All  day  long  he  tried  to  launch  the  boat  but  foun,d  it 
impossible,  and  just  as  he  was  preparing  to  spend  the 
night  on  the  shore  a  telegram  came  from  Superintendent 
Bowley  saying  that  a  crew  from  Monomoy  (on  the 
Cape  Cod  shore)  had  boarded  the  vessel. 

About  2.30  A.M.,  the  following  morning.  Captain 
Norcross,  in  accompanying  the  night  patrol,  discovered 
a  vessel  in  distress  on  Great  Point  Rip.  Telephoning 
to  the  station  for  his  men,  they  arrived  duly  after  a 
three  hours'  run,  and  with  strenuous  efforts  got  the 
boat  through  the  breakers.  The  men  were  drenched 
with  the  icy  water.  They  had  never  before  experienced 
such  wind  or  such  a  sea,  so  terrific  that  the  oars  were 
frequently  blown  out  of  the  oarlocks,  and  it  was  impos- 
sible for  the  men  to  row  together.  They  found  their 
boat  drifting,  and,  after  struggling  for  three  hours, 
they  made  for  the  shore  once  more,  and  effected  a 
landing  about  a  mile  from  where  they  had  started. 
They  got  out  their  horse  and  truck,  loaded  their  gear 
and  dragged  it  back  to  the  starting  point  once  more. 
They  felt  there  was  not  a  moment  to  rest,  as  the  masts 
of  the  vessel  were  liable  to  fall  at  any  moment,  and 
render  all  efforts  to  save  the  men  or  the  ship  impossible. 
They  had  been  working  five  hours  without  a  let-up, 
yet,  when  the  boat  was  ready,  the  men  (shivering  in 
their  wet  clothes)  were  ready  to  start  with  a  will.  The 
tide  had  changed  somewhat  and  the  launching  was 
more   easily   managed.     With  blistered   and  bleeding 


31 8  Nantucket 

hands  the  men  never  relaxed  an  effort  until  they  had 
reached  the  goal,  and  every  frozen  man  in  the  rigging 
had  dropped  into  their  boat,  safe  at  last ! 

The  vessel  was  the  Charles  S.  Wolston,  Macauley, 
master,  with  a  mate,  cook,  and  three  sailors. 

Such  is  a  part  of  the  record  of  the  Coskata  Life- 
saving  Station,  which  has  no  habitation  nearer  than 
the  lighthouse,  two  miles  and  a  half  away ;  for  the  town 
is  eight  miles  distant.  While  it  is  one  of  the  most 
exposed  and  desolate  stations  on  the  coast,  a  portion 
of  the  ocean  side  of  the  island  being  under  the 
protection  of  Captain  Norcross  and  his  men,  the 
territory  he  controls  is  one  of  the  largest  on  the  New 
England  coast.  ^ 

What  has  just  been  said  of  the  Coskata  life-savers  is 
equally  applicable  to  those  of  Surf-Side,  Great  Neck, 
and  Muskeget;  when  danger  is  in  sight  the  men  are 
always  ready  to  spring  into  their  surf -boats,  and  what- 
ever men  can  do  they  will  dare  and  do. 

Thirty  thousand  vessels  pass  through  Nantucket 
Sound  annually,  and  Coatue  makes  a  lee  shore  for  all 
in  a  north  or  northwesterly  gale.  How  many  crews 
on  those  thousands  of  vessels  feel  their  courage  rise 
and  their  hearts  throb  with  gratitude  when  they  realize 
that,  amid  the  treacherous,  complicated  shoals  of 
Nantucket — which  constitute  perhaps  the  most  peril- 
ous danger-bed  around  the  Atlantic  coast — the  steady 
eyes  of  loyal  life-savers  are  looking  after  the  welfare 
and  safety  of  their  ships,  by  day  and  by  night,  every 
hour  of  the  twenty -four,  and  who  are  ever  ready  at  a 
moment's  notice  to  hasten  to  their  relief,  fearless  of 
either  danger  or  death,  in  the  discharge  of  their  self- 

"  Compiled  from  paper,  by  Simon  J.  Nevins,  in  Nantucket  Inquirer 
and  Mirror,  January  20,  1912. 


Life-Saving  Service  and  Wrecks       319 

sacrificing  duty,  and  ready  either  to  succor  them  or  die 
in  the  attempt!  All  honor  to  the  noble  Life-saving 
Service ! 

"Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this, — that  a  man 
lay  down  his  life  for  his  friend." 


CHAPTER  XVII 
the  island  steamers 
By  Harry  B.  Turner 

Eleven  years  after  Robert  Fulton  proved  the  practi- 
cability and  feasibility  of  navigation  by  steam,  the 
island  of  Nantucket  was  enjoying  steamboat  service 
with  the  mainland  for  the  first  time.  Nantucket  was 
then  one  of  the  leading  ports  on  the  coast,  and  it  was 
in  line  with  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  islanders  that 
the  little  steamer  Eagle — a  crude  craft,  to  be  sure,  but 
at  that  time  considered  a  big  improvement  over  Ful- 
ton's Clermont,  and  in  comparison  "very  fast  and  sea- 
worthy"— was  built  to  operate  across  Nantucket 
Sound  only  a  few  months  after  the  first  steamboat  had 
been  seen  in  Boston  harbor.  Who  the  promoters  of 
this  first  steamboat  project  were  is  not  known — that 
much  of  the  first  venture  has  been  lost  to  history — but 
it  is  safe  to  state  that  they  were  men  closely  allied  with 
Nantucket. 

The  Eagle  was  an  awkward  little  boat  of  eighty  tons, 
and  was  built  at  New  London,  Ct.,  miaking  her  first 
trip  over  to  Nantucket  on  the  5th  of  May,  1818.  For 
several  months,  she  made  trips  between  the  island  and 
New  Bedford,  and  oh  the  30th  of  July  made  a  "record" 

320 


The  Island  Steamers  321 

of  eight  hours  and  seven  minutes  for  the  passage.  The 
Eagle  was  92  feet  long,  17.8  feet  beam,  and  was  equipped 
with  two  copper  boilers,  burning  wood  for  fuel. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  this  first  steamboat  venture 
was  not  a  financial  success.  Nantucketers  were  not 
ready  to  patronize  "steam"  in  preference  to  "sail," 
and  as  the  cost  of  operation  was  heavy,  the  promoters 
abandoned  the  project  the  latter  part  of  September. 
The  boat  was  sold  for  service  between  Boston  and 
Hingham,  where  she  was  operated  until  the  year  1821, 
when  she  was  sold  for  junk,  the  copper  boilers  bringing 
more  than  they  cost  when  new. 

From  the  time  the  Eagle  left  Nantucket  on  the  21st 
of  September,  1818,  sijj:  years  elapsed  before  a  second 
attempt  was  made  to  inaugurate  successful  steamboat 
service  across  the  Sound.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1824, 
a  Nantucket  man  named  Captain  R.  S.  Bunker,  brought 
the  steamer  Connecticut  to  the  island  and  endeavored  to 
create  enough  enthusiasm  and  support  among  the 
islanders  to  form  a  company  for  her  operation  as  a 
passenger  and  freight  boat  between  the  island  and  New 
Bedford.  Bunker's  project  was  turned  down,  however, 
and  four  years  more  elapsed  before  another  attempt 
was  made. 

In  the  spring  of  1828,  the  steamer  Hamilton  was  put 
on  the  route  in  command  of  a  Vineyard  Haven  man, 
the  project  having  been  started  by  New  Bedford  capi- 
talists. The  Hamilton  was  even  more  of  a  failure  than 
the  Eagle,  being  unable  to  make  any  headway  against  a 
head  wind  or  tide,  and  therefore  able  to  travel  only  when 
conditions  were  favorable.  She  was  a  craft  of  only 
fifty  tons,  and  her  principal  fuel  was  tar  barrels,  of 
which  Nantucket  and  New  Bedford  could  each  furnish 
a   generous  amount   in   those  days.     The  Hamilton's 


322  Nantucket 

service  was  even  shorter  than  the  Eaglets,  her  last  trip 
being  made  in  August,  1828. 

It  remained  for  Jacob  Barker,  the  famous  merchant 
— who,  by  the  way,  assisted  Robert  Fulton  in  his  earlier 
project,  importing  from  London  the  first  steam-engine 
used  in  the  propulsion  of  vessels — to  inaugurate  the 
first  actually  successful  steamboat  line  across  Nan- 
tucket Sound.  Barker  was  of  Nantucket  lineage  and 
deeply  interested  in  the  island,  and,  firm  in  the  belief 
that  a  suitable  steamer  would  receive  the  support  of 
the  islanders,  he  had  the  Marco  Bozzaris  built  and  placed 
her  in  service  in  April,  1829,  under  command  of  his 
nephew.  Captain  Edward  H.  Barker. 

The  Marco  Bozzaris  proved  the  marked  foresight  of 
Jacob  Barker,  for  she  was  successfully  operated  be- 
tween Nantucket  and  New  Bedford  for  four  years,  and 
was  withdrawn  only  when  the  merchants  of  Nantucket, 
brought  to  the  realization  that  "steam"  had  come  to 
stay,  were  ready  to  form  a  company  among  themselves 
and  have  a  larger  boat  built  for  the  service.  Jacob 
Barker  lent  his  assistance,  both  personal  and  financial, 
to  the  islanders'  scheme,  and,  as  a  result,  the  steamer 
Telegraph  was  built  and  placed  in  operation  in  October, 
1832,  under  command  of  the  same  Edward  H.  Barker 
who  was  captain  of  the  Bozzaris.  The  new  steamer  was 
built  especially  for  the  Nantucket  service,  with  a  bow 
well-fitted  for  battling  with  the  ice  in  the  winter,  being 
of  171  tons,  120  feet  long  and  19  feet  6  inches  beam. 
She  had  copper  boilers,  and  burned  wood  for  fuel,  as 
did  her  predecessor.  The  Telegraph  really  proved 
herself  an  able  boat  in  every  way,  and  remained  in 
service  in  Nantucket  waters  twenty-three  years. 

The  Nantucket  Steamboat  Company,  which  was 
formed  when  the  Telegraph  was  built  in  1832,  ten  years 


The  Island  Steamers  323 

later  had  a  second  steamer  constructed,  naming  her 
the  Massachusetts  and  expending  $40,000  on  her.  She 
was  of  308  tons,  161  feet  long  and  23  feet  beam,  and, 
with  the  Telegraph,  became  prominent  in  wrecking 
operations  around  Nantucket  Island,  as  well  as  in  the 
operation  of  regular  passenger  and  freight  service 
between  the  island  and  the  mainland.  In  those  days, 
"tugs"  were  unknown,  and  it  was  expected  that  the 
island  steamers  were  to  go  to  vessels  wrecked  or  in 
distress,  abandoning  their  regular  service  at  such  times, 
the  proceeds  from  such  exploits  often  netting  the  owners 
of  the  steamers  immense  sums  of  money  in  salvage. 

The  year  after  the  Massachusetts  came  in  service 
(1843)  the  passenger  travel  had  increased  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  company  was  operating  both  the  Tele- 
graph and  Massachusetts,  the  former  running  to  Woods 
Hole  and  the  latter  to  New  Bedford.  This  scheme 
proved  to  be  a  losing  venture,  however,  and  the  Tele- 
graph was  thereafter  used  only  as  a  spare  boat. 

Some  of  the  wrecking  operations  of  the  old  steamers 
were  fraught  with  great  danger,  especially  when  the 
Island  Home  was  first  in  service.  This  steamer,  which 
made  a  history  for  herself  in  a  long  and  hard  career, 
was  built  in  1855  to  run  on  the  route  between  Nantucket 
and  Hyannis,  and  she  had  some  very  thrilling  experi- 
ences, both  in  going  to  distressed  vessels  and  in  battling 
with  heavy  storms  and  the  winter  ice-fields. 

She  first  came  to  Nantucket  on  the  5th  of  September, 
1855,  having  been  built  according  to  the  views  of 
the  Nantucket  men  who  had  formed  themselves  into  the 
Nantucket  &  Cape  Cod  Steamboat  Company,  for  the 
purpose  of  opening  up  the  Hyannis  route.  Her  first 
commander  was  Captain  Thomas  Brown,  but  in  the 
real  history  the  Island  Home  made  for  herself.  Captain 


324  Nantucket 

Nathan  Manter  was  at  the  helm,  and  the  name  of  the 
boat  and  her  genial  skipper  will  long  live  in  the  memory 
of  all  Nantucketers.  The  old  steamer,  with  her  bluff 
but  good-natured  skipper,  fought  many  a  battle  with 
the  elements,  weathered  many  a  gale,  butted  many 
an  ice-field,  and  won  more  laurels  than  any  craft  which 
ever  traversed  Nantucket  Sound.  She  ended  her  days 
as  a  coal  barge,  being  sold  by  the  local  steamboat  line 
in  1895. 

In  July,  1858 — having  outlived  their  usefulness  on 
the  island  route — the  steamers  Telegraph  and  Massa- 
chusetts left  Nantucket  for  good,  the  Massachusetts 
towing  the  Telegraph,  both  boats  having  been  sold  to 
New  Jersey  parties.  What  became  of  the  Telegraph  is 
not  known,  but  it  is  presumed  she  went  to  the  junk- 
heap.  The  Massachusetts,  however,  was  rebuilt,  and, 
under  the  name  of  the  John  D.  W.  Pentz,  saw  service 
during  the  Civil  War,  resuming,  at  its  close,  her  former 
name,  and  plying  the  waters  of  Chesapeake  Bay  as  a 
passenger  boat  until  the  early  eighties. 

In  1873,  steamer  River  Queen  was  placed  in  service 
on  the  Nantucket  route  as  a  sister  ship  to  the  Island 
Home,  the  two-boats-a-day  schedule  being  inaugurated 
the  following  summer  for  the  first  time.  The  River 
Queen  was  built  in  1864,  and,  during  the  closing  year 
of  the  Civil  War,  was  used  by  General  Grant  as  his 
private  dispatch  boat  on  the  Potomac  River.  It  was  on 
board  her  that  the  celebrated  conference  was  held 
between  President  Lincoln  of  the  United  States  and 
A.  H.  Stephens,  Vice-President  of  the  Confederacy. 
The  River  Queen  was  continued  in  service  on  the  Nan- 
tucket route  until  1881,  and  ended  her  days  as  an  ex- 
cursion steamer,  on  the  Potomac  River. 

While  Nantucket  had  its  own  steamboat  company, 


The  Island  Steamers  325 

operating  its  own  steamers  independent  of  Martha's 
Vineyard  ownership,  the  Nantucket  steamers,  for 
many  years,  had  been  stopping  at  the  Vineyard  on  the 
way  down  from  New  Bedford.  Therefore,  when  the 
route  was  shifted  from  New  Bedford  to  Hyannis  it 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  rival  line — the  "Martha 
Vineyard  Steamboat  Company,"  in  1851,  and  three 
years  later,  the  "New  Bedford,  Vineyard  &  Nantucket 
Steamboat  Company."  The  stock  of  the  new  com- 
pany was  largely  owned  in  New  Bedford,  and  the 
promoters  determined  to  make  every  possible  effort 
to  prevent  Nantucket's  service  from  being  transferred 
from  that  city  to  Hyannis,  as  seemed  probable  when 
the  Island  Home  was  being  built. 

The  new  company  constructed  the  steamer  Eagle's 
Wing,  and,  while  the  finishing  touches  were  being  made 
to  the  boat,  placed  in  service  the  steamer  George  Law. 
The  Eagle's  Witig  was  not  ready  and  in  commission 
until  October  23,  1854,  when  she  made  a  trip  to  Nan- 
tucket in  com.mand  of  Captain  James  Barker.  Nan- 
tucket gave  its  patronage  to  the  Isla^id  Home,  however, 
with  the  result  that  the  Eagle's  Wing  was  running  at 
a  loss,  and  she  was  kept  on  the  Nantucket  route  but  two 
years,  then  being  operated  between  New  Bedford  and  Ed- 
gartown.  She  ended  her  days  in  1861,  when  she  caught 
fire  on  the  Providence  River  and  was  totally  destroyed. 

Between  1840  and  1870  the  steamers  which  were 
operating  on  the  route  between  New  Bedford  and 
Edgartown  occasionally  came  over  to  Nantucket, 
although  not  in  service  on  this  line.  Among  them  were 
the  Naushon,  Metacomet,  Canonicus,  and  Helen  Augusta, 
and,  a  few  days  after  the  great  fire  of  1846,  a  steamer 
called  the  Bradford  Diirjee  came  to  Nantucket  from 
Fall  River  with  provisions  for  the  stricken  inhabitants. 


326  .  Nantucket 

In  1856-57,  Nantucket  had  in  service  between  the 
island  and  New  York,  a  propeller  steamer,  which  was 
called  the  Jersey  Blue,  commanded  by  Captain  Nathan 
Kelley  of  Nantucket.  She  was  owned  by  Nantucketers 
but  was  not  a  paying  investment,  although  she  was 
used  occasionally  in  towing  vessels  up  and  down  the 
Sound.  One  other  propeller  came  to  Nantucket  a  few 
years  before — the  Osceola — but  only  as  an  excursion 
boat. 

Not  until  the  Monohansett  was  built  in  1862,  to 
replace  the  Eagle's  Wing,  was  either  of  the  Vineyard 
steamers  a  familiar  figure  on  the  Nantucket  route. 
The  Monohansett,  however,  came  to  Nantucket  many 
times  during  her  career,  both  as  an  extra  boat  and  to 
force  ice  blockades,  but  the  greater  part  of  her  service 
was  on  the  Vineyard  route.  In  1904,  she  was  wrecked 
and  totally  lost  in  Salem  Harbor. 

The  Martha's  Vineyard,  built  in  1871,  is  still  in 
service — one  of  the  oldest  steamers  in  these  parts, 
although  now  used  as  a  spare  boat.  She  is  171  feet 
long  and  28  feet  beam. 

In  1886,  the  rival  companies — "Nantucket  &  Cape 
Cod  Steamboat  Company"  and  "New  Bedford,  Vine- 
yard &  Nantucket  Steamboat  Company" — consoli- 
dated, the  new  company  taking  the  name  of  the  "New 
Bedford,  Martha's  Vineyard  &  Nantucket  Steamboat 
Company,"  as  at  present.  The  new  concern  immedi- 
ately commenced  the  construction  of  the  steamer  Nayi- 
tucket,  which  made  her  first  trip  to  the  island  in  July, 
1886.  She  is  of  629  gross  tons,  190  feet  long  and  33 
feet  beam,  and  has  been  in  almost  continual  service  for 
over  twenty-seven  years,  being  rebuilt  three  years  ago. 

Steamer  Gay  Head  was  built  in  1891,  and  is  of  701 
tons,  203  feet  long,  and  34  feet  beam.     She  made  her 


The  Island  Steamers  327 

first  trip  on  July  8,  1891,  under  command  of  Captain 
A.  P.  Bartow. 

Steamer  Uncatena  was  built  in  1902  for  the  Edgar- 
town  route,  but  each  year  has  been  making  "alternating 
trips"  to  Nantucket  with  one  of  the  other  steamers. 
She  is  the  first  steel  boat  built  for  the  island  route,  is 
of  652  tons,  187  feet  long  and  31  feet  beam. 

The  latest  addition  to  the  fleet  is  the  steel  propeller 
Sankaty,  built  in  191 1.  She  is  191  feet  long  and  36 
feet  deck  beam,  and  her  service  has  opened  the  ques- 
tion of  whether  or  no  side-wheel  boats  or  propellers 
are  best  fitted  for  this  service.  Owing  to  lack  of  water 
inside  of  Brant  Point,  it  was  impossible  to  make  the 
Sankaty  of  as  deep  draft  as  was  desired,  but  with  the 
harbor  improvements  contemplated,  it  is  probable 
that  by  the  time  the  company  is  ready  to  build  another 
steamer,  sufficient  water  can  be  "carried"  into  the 
wharf  to  permit  at  least  three  feet  to  be  added  to  the 
draft  of  new  boats.  This  would  in  a  large  measure 
tend  to  remove  whatever  objectionable  features  there 
may  be,  at  present,  to  the  service  of  a  propeller  steamer 
across  Nantucket  Sound. 

It  is  now  ninety-five  years  since  the  little  Eagle 
ploughed  its  way  across  Nantucket  Sound  and  opened 
up  steam  navigation  between  Nantucket  and  the  main- 
land. The  changes  that  have  occurred  during  that 
period  have  been  many.  Nantucket  reached  its  zenith 
as  a  whaling  port,  suffered  a  decline  and  dropped,  for 
a  time,  almost  into  obscurity;  yet,  withal,  the  steam- 
boat service  kept  constantly  improving,  and  with  the 
"rejuvenation  "  which  came  when  the  island  commenced 
to  develop  as  a  summer  resort  in  the  seventies,  new 
and  modern  steamers  were  built  and  the  service  steadily 
improved.     To-day,  the  island,  thirty  miles  out  at  pea, 


328  Nantucket 

enjoys  daily  connections  with  the  mainland  from  Octo- 
ber to  June  and  twice  daily  connections  from  June  to 
October,  over  fifty  thousand  passengers  crossing  the 
Sound  during  the  twelve  months  of  each  year. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

the  newspapers  of  nantucket 

By  Harry  B.  Turner 

With  the  enterprise  characteristic  of  Nantucket  in 
the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  first  of 
the  island  newspapers  was  bom  in  1816.  It  was  called 
The  Gazette  and  was  issued  for  the  first  time  on  Monday, 
May  6th,  with  Abraham  G.  Tannant  and  Hiram  Tupper 
as  its  publishers.  Its  pages  were  12  x  20  inches  in 
size,  five  columns  wide,  and  the  first  sheet  printed  was 
purchased,  for  the  sum  of  fifty  cents,  by  Sylvanus 
Macy,  who  was  anxious  to  own  the  first  copy  of  a 
newspaper  issued  on  Nantucket,  The  Gazette  was 
printed  in  a  building  which  stood  on  the  corner  of 
Main  (then  State)  and  Water  Streets,  and  sold  "for 
$2.50  per  annum,"  yet  it  did  not  survive  a  full  year, 
being  issued  but  thirty-six  times,  its  last  being  on  the 
1st  day  of  February,  1817,  when  it  died  from  want  of 
patronage. 

A  few  months  later  Mr.  Tannant  took  on  renewed 
courage,  and  from  the  ruins  of  The  Gazette  issued  a  lox  12 
sheet  which  he  called  The  Nantucket  Weekly  Magazine. 
This  tiny  weekly  covered  four  pages  of  three  columns 
each  and  was   "devoted  to  literary  and  com.mercial 

329 


330  Nantucket 

reading.  It  was  published  every  Saturday  evening, 
its  first  issue  being  on  June  28,  18 17,  and  its  last  on 
January  3,  181 8,  when  Mr.  Tannant  gave  up  his  news- 
paper efforts  in  despair,  printing  the  following  an- 
nouncement in  his  last  issue : 

It  is  with  extreme  regret  that  we  announce  to  our  readers 
that  with  this  paper  the  publication  of  The  Nantucket  Weekly 
Magazine  and  our  labors  as  Editor,  Publisher,  et  cetera, 
at  Nantucket,  cease.  Imperious  custom  demands  from 
us  some  few  remarks  in  regard  to  the  decline  of  the  paper. 
The  local  situation  of  Nantucket,  the  still  more  local  views 
of  its  inhabitants,  and  the  evident  want  of  popular  excite- 
ment, commingled,  are  the  ostensible  causes  of  its  failure; 
and  our  repeated  trial  will  warrant  us  in  the  remark  that 
until  a  paper  shall  be  better  appreciated  and  more  public 
spirit  manifested,  there  can  be  no  hope  of  a  similar  enter- 
prise hereafter. 

The  first  issues  of  The  Weekly  Magazine  were  quite 
readable,  however,  for  among  other  things  they  con- 
tained some  interesting  private  correspondence  of  Dr. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  published  by  his  grandson,  William 
Temple  Franklin.  In  perusing  the  copies  of  this  little 
paper,  one  can  see  at  a  glance  that  its  editor  and  pub- 
lisher was  using  his  best  efforts  to  make  it  interesting 
to  his  readers,  and  was  bravely  striving  to  "make 
good";  but  in  this  last  he  failed. 

Mr.  Tannant's  rather  pessimistic  farewell  when  he 
retired  from  the  newspaper  field  doubtless  prevented 
any  more  attempts  to  launch  a  successful  newspaper 
on  Nantucket  for  the  three  succeeding  years,  but,  in 
1 82 1,  Joseph  C.  Melcher  laid  the  foundation  of  what 
became  a  permanent  institution — a  newspaper  which 
he  called    The  Inquirer  and   which  has  survived   the 


The  Newspapers  of  Nantucket         331 

trials  and  vicissitudes  of  over  ninety  years,  to-day  being 
known  as  The  Inquirer  and  Mirror.  Joseph  Melcher 
was  only  the  publisher  of  The  Inquirer,  however,  for  he 
had  associated  with  him,  as  editor,  Samuel  Haynes  Jenks, 
than  whom  no  more  talented  and  forceful  writer  ever  filled 
the  editorial  chair  on  Nantucket  Island.  The  first  issue 
of  The  Inquirer  was  dated  June  23 ,  1 82 1 ,  and  it  contained 
a  two-column  announcement  signed  by  Mr.  Melcher,  in 
which  he  outlined  his  intentions  and  the  policies  he 
would  pursue  in  the  publication  of  the  little  newspaper. 
The  size  of  the  page  was  12  x  20  inches,  four  columns 
to  the  page,  and  the  files  of  the  paper  are  in  excellent 
condition  to  this  day,  considering  the  lapse  of  years. 

In  1823,  Mr.  Jenks  assumed  full  control  of  The 
Inquirer  and  for  over  twenty  years  he  ably  filled  the 
position  of  editor  and  publisher,  by  his  efforts  doing 
much  for  the  benefit  and  development  of  Nantucket. 
Mr.  Jenks  was  one  of  Nantucket's  brilliant  men — a 
gentleman  and  a  scholar  in  every  sense.  In  writing 
of  the  successful  efforts  of  Mr.  Jenks  in  the  publication 
of  The  Inquirer,  the  late  William  Hussey  Macy  said : 

The  Inquirer  grew  rapidly  and  acquired  more  than  a 
local  reputation,  Mr.  Jenks  was  a  live  editor,  a  ready  and 
vigorous  writer,  and  an  earnest  and  fearless  advocate  of 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  right  side  of  each  current  issue. 
Although  not  a  native  of  Nantucket,  he  was  for  so  many 
years  closely  identified  with  the  town  in  all  that  concerned 
its  prosperity  that  he  is  deserving  a  place  among  its  distin- 
guished men  and  women.  It  was  doubtless  through  his 
persistent  efforts  with  pen  and  voice  that  public  schools 
were  established  on  Nantucket. 

Five  years  after  its  birth,  The  Inquirer  had  a  rival, 
The  Nantucket  Journal  having  been  started  by  William 


332  Nantucket 

H.  Bigelow,  a  Boston  man  who  moved  to  the  island. 
The  Journal  was  first  issued  on  the  14th  of  September, 
1826,  but  the  paper  survived  only  thirty-eight  issues, 
passing  out  of  existence  on  June  i,  1827.  The  Journal 
was  the  only  contemporary  The  Inquirer  had  until  the 
year  1840,  and  during  that  period  the  latter  was  issued 
not  only  as  a  weekly,  but  as  a  semi-weekly  and,  for  a 
few  months,  as  a  tri- weekly.  Between  the  years  1830 
and  1840,  Mr.  Jenks  was  assisted  in  the  publication  of 
the  paper  by  G.  F.  Bemis,  T.  J.  Worth,  Charles  C.  Hill, 
John  Morissey,  and  William  A.  Jenks,  respectively,  and, 
for  a  brief  period  in  the  early  30' s,  he  relinquished  the 
editorial  chair  to  Charles  Bunker.  The  Inquirer  was 
one  of  the  old  Whig  papers  and  strongly  opposed  the 
re-election  of  General  Jackson  (who  was,  however, 
re-elected,  although  Nantucket  gave  him  but  fourteen 
votes,  and  was  thereby  called  "the  banner  Whig  town"). 

During  the  thirties  The  Inquirer  wandered  from  place 
to  place  for  its  home.  It  was  first  printed  in  a  back 
room  of  the  second  story  of  a  building  owned  by  Wil- 
liam Coffin,  which  stood  on  the  comer  of  Main  and 
Candle  Streets.  The  lower  part  of  this  building  was 
then  the  post-office,  with  George  W.  Ewer  as  post- 
master. 

In  1830,  The  Inquirer  moved  to  a  three-story  build- 
ing owned  by  Charles  G.  Stubbs,  where  the  shop  of 
C.  W.  Ellis  now  stands  on  Water  Street.  It  then 
moved  to  the  building  of  Philip  H.  Folger,  and,  in  1833, 
went  to  a  building  standing  on  the  west  comer  of  Main 
and  Federal  Streets,  where  it  remained  but  a  few 
months.  Then  it  again  moved,  this  time  taking  up 
its  residence  in  a  building  erected  by  F.  F.  Hussey, 
on  Union  Street.  In  1836,  Mr.  Jenks  having  built  a 
residence  on  Union  Street,  the  office  was    transferred 


The  Newspapers  of  Nantucket        333 

to  a  small  building  on  Coffin  Street,  near  the  head  of 
Commercial  wharf.  The  transfer  was  made  just  in 
time  to  escape  disaster  in  the  Washington  House  fire, 
which  also  destroyed  the  building  belonging  to  Mr. 
Hussey,  vacated  by  The  Inquirer  a  day  or  two  before. 

The  Inquirer  continued  to  be  published  on  Coffin 
Street  up  to  the  year  1841,  when  William  A.  Jenks 
assumed  control  on  the  ist  of  April,  and  moved  the 
office  to  the  new  building  of  Frederick  Hussey  on  Main 
Street.  The  paper  was  sold  to  Hiram  B.  Dennis  in 
December  of  the  same  year,  and  Mr.  Dennis  continued 
in  charge  until  August  12,  1843,  when  John  Morissey 
assumed  the  editorship. 

In  the  year  1840,  Nantucket's  fifth  newspaper,  and 
The  Inquirer's  second  rival,  appeared  in  the  shape  of 
The  Islander,  a  purely  Democratic  medium  which  was 
financed  by  the  island  Democrats,  who  at  that  period 
numbered  quite  strong.  The  editor  of  The  Islander 
was  Charles  C.  Hazewell,  a  young  man  from  the  Boston 
Post,  who  afterwards  won  considerable  fame  for  his 
writings.  Hazewell  was  a  vigorous  writer,  and  he  did 
yeoman's  work  for  the  Democratic  party  during  the 
fierce  political  campaign  which  resulted  in  the  election 
of  General  Harrison  to  the  Presidency.  During  the 
anti-slavery  troubles  of  the  next  year  or  two,  when 
attempts  were  made  to  prevent  the  abolitionists  from 
holding  meetings  in  Nantucket,  The  Islander  cham- 
pioned the  cause  of  the  lecturers  and  dealt  vigorous 
blows  against  those  who  attempted  to  break  up  the 
meetings.  The  paper  was  printed  in  a  building  which 
stood  on  the  comer  of  Cambridge  Street  and  Coal 
Lane,  until  March,  1843,  when  it  was  discontinued. 

The  equipment  of  The  Islander  was  purchased  by 
two  young  aspirants  for  journalistic  honors — Woodbury 


334  Nantucket 

Bradford  and  Alexander  B.  Robinson — who  commenced 
the  pubHcation  of  Tlie  Weekly  Telegraph  in  the  same 
building,  in  June,  1844.  Soon  after  the  first  publica- 
tion of  the  weekly,  they  commenced  issuing  a  daily, 
which  was  the  first  daily  paper  ever  printed  on  Nan- 
tucket. The  Telegraph' s  enterprise  caused  The  Inquirer 
to  follow  suit  and  for  a  time  both  papers  were  issued 
daily,  with  the  result  that  neither  was  a  paying  propo- 
sition. Both  papers  were  purchased  by  Edward  W. 
Cobb  in  1845,  who  continued  publishing  The  Inquirer 
for  ten  years. 

After  an  absence  from  the  loci  1  newspaper  field  of 
only  a  few  months,  John  Morissey  returned  to  Nan- 
tucket in  1845,  and  commenced  the  publication  of  The 
Weekly  Mirror  in  opposition  to  The  Inquirer,  which 
he  formerly  edited.  The  Mirror  met  with  excellent 
success  at  the  start,  and  for  several  months  a  bitter 
rivalry  was  waged  between  it  and  The  Inquirer,  but, 
on  December  27,  1845,  a  third  paper  made  its  debut 
in  Nantucket,  "making  it  hard  scratching  for  a  living 
for  all  three,"  as  Edward  W.  Cobb  said  when  reciting 
his  newspaper  experiences  a  half  century  afterward. 

The  third  paper,  called  The  Weekly  Warder,  was 
published  by  William  C.  Starbuck  and  edited  by 
Samuel  Haynes  Jenks,  the  former  editor  of  The  Inquirer. 
Thus  the  old  Inquirer  was  up  against  stiff  competition 
with  two  live  contemporaries  and  each  edited  by  one 
of  its  former  editors,  and  when  the  "great  fire"  occurred 
in  July,  1846,  there  were  three  newspaper  offices  doing 
active  business  in  Nantucket. 

This  memorable  conflagration  destroyed  the  plants 
of  both  The  Inquirer  and  The  Mirror,  but  each  re- 
covered from  the  disaster,  issuing  single  7x9  sheets  for 
several  weeks  from  temporary  offices.     The   Warder, 


The  Newspapers  of  Nantucket        335 

the  only  one  of  the  three  papers  which  withstood  the 
fire  unharmed,  had  but  a  short  Hfe,  for  it  was  in  exist- 
ence less  than  two  years.  It  is  recorded  that  w^hile 
the  fire  was  still  in  progress  the  wife  of  Samuel  Haynes 
Jenks  (who  was  a  worthy  helpmeet  to  him  in  his  news- 
paper work),  her  husband  being  away  from  the  island, 
wrote  an  account  of  the  conflagration,  hurried  to  The 
Warder's  office,  set  her  story  in  type,  and  ran  off  an 
edition  giving  the  brief  details  of  the  disaster.  Air. 
Jenks,  in  later  years,  offered  large  sums  of  money  for 
a  copy  of  this  little  sheet,  but  he  was  unable  to  secure 
one. 

After  the  fire  of  1846,  Edward  W.  Cobb  issued  The 
Inquirer  from  a  little  school-house  on  Flora  Street,  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town,  later  moving  to  the  rear 
part  of  Thomas  B.  Paddock's  store,  and  finally  to 
Valentine  Hussey's  new  brick  block  on  Main  Street. 
Seven  weeks  after  his  plant  had  been  destroyed  by  the 
fire,  Mr.  Cobb  issued  The  Inquirer,  restored  to  its  former 
size  and  appearance.  The  flames  had  wiped  out  all 
he  possessed  in  the  world,  but  with  the  assistance  of 
friends  he  borrowed  money  enough  to  purchase  a  new 
equipment,  and  on  August  31,  1846,  issued  The  Inquirer 
in  its  old  familiar  form.  That  he  fully  realized  the 
difficult  task  set  before  him,  is  apparent  from  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph  which  appeared  in  that  issue: 

We  recommence  our  publishing  deeply  involved  in  debt. 
The  proprietor  of  this  paper  lost  his  all  by  the  fire,  and  he 
has  been  forced  to  replenish  his  office  entirely  on  credit. 
His  real  struggle  is  just  commencing,  for,  with  but  little  to 
depend  upon  beyond  the  receipts  of  The  Inquirer,  he  has 
got,  within  a  few  months,  to  raise  funds  to  make  some 
heavy  payments. 


336  Nantucket 

However,  for  ten  years  Edward  W.  Cobb  maintained 
his  struggle,  but  in  July,  1855,  the  control  of  the  paper 
passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Morissey  and  Alexander 
P.  Moore,  who  published  The  Inquirer  over  the  firm 
name  of  Morissey  &  Moore.  At  the  time  of  the  '46  fire, 
JVIr.  Morissey  was  publishing  The  Mirror,  and,  as  soon 
as  he  could  get  a  temporary  plant  together,  he  had 
renewed  publication  over  the  grocery  store  of  Frederick 
A.  Chase  on  Union  Street,  issuing  a  little  7x9  sheet 
until  he  could  make  a  complete  recovery.  In  1849, 
when  Morissey  decided  to  go  to  California,  he  sold 
The  Mirror  to  Samuel  S.  Hussey  and  Henry  D.  Robin- 
son, who  published  it  over  the  firm  name  of  Hussey  & 
Robinson.  Mr.  Morissey  remained  in  California  six 
years,  and  it  was  upon  his  return  home  that  he  again 
entered  the  newspaper  field  by  purchasing  his  former 
rival,  The  Inquirer,  from  Edward  W.  Cobb,  and, 
associated  with  Moore,  he  continued  its  publication 
until  1858,  when  he  retired. 

After  the  retirement  of  Morissey,  The  Inquirer  was 
published  by  Moore  for  nearly  three  years,  he  serving 
as  both  editor  and  publisher.  In  1861,  however,  the 
paper  passed  into  the  control  of  William  H.  Beekman 
as  publisher,  with  Edward  M.  Gardner  as  editor.  In 
the  spring  of  1863,  Alfred  Macy  assumed  the  editorial 
chair  of  The  Inquirer  and  continued  there  until  April  i , 
1865,  when  Hussey  &  Robinson,  of  The  Mirror,  pur- 
chased the  plant,  good  will,  etc.,  of  The  Inquirer,  from 
William  R.  Easton,  and  merged  it  with  their  own  publi- 
cation under  the  name  of  The  Inquirer  and  Mirror. 

For  nine  years  after  the  union  of  the  two  papers, 
The  Inquirer  and  Mirror  was  the  only  newspaper  pub- 
lished on  Nantucket.  In  1874,  however,  Isaac  H. 
Folger  started  The  Island  Review,  in  the  block  on  the 


The  Newspapers  of  Nantucket         337 

west  corner  of  Main  and  Federal  Streets,  running  it 
weekly  for  a  time,  then  semi- weekly,  at  times  tri- 
weekly, and  even  daily  for  a  brief  period.  Later,  he 
moved  the  plant  to  Center  Street,  and  S.  Heath  Rich, 
now  editor  of  the  Brockton  Enterprise,  became  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  Folger  on  The  Review,  and  they  con- 
tinued publishing  the  paper  until  the  autumn  of  1878, 
when  they  purchased  The  Advance,  in  Brockton,  and 
removed  a  portion  of  their  equipment  to  that  place. 

With  the  field  thus  left  open  for  another  newspaper, 
Arthur  H.  Gardner,  a  graduate  of  The  Inqiiirer  and 
Mirror  office,  immediately  entered  the  opening,  and 
issued  the  first  number  of  The  Nantucket  Journal  (the 
second  of  that  name)  from  the  ante-rooms  of  Pantheon 
Hall  (over  what  is  now  Congdon's  drug  store)  on  the 
26th  of  September,  1878.  Mr.  Gardner  later  removed 
the  plant  to  the  brick  block  on  Main  Street,  over  Jer- 
negan's  periodical  store,  continuing  its  publication  as 
a  weekly  until  November  23,  1899,  when  it  was  dis- 
continued. 

Samuel  S.  Hussey  and  Henry  D.  Robinson  continued 
publishing  The  Inquirer  and  Mirror  until  1877,  when 
the  former  retired  from  the  business  in  favor  of  his  son, 
Roland  B.  Hussey,  who  continued  the  partnership  with 
Mr.  Robinson,  under  the  old  firm  name  of  Hussey  &  Rob- 
inson, until  September,  1887,  when  Mr.  Robinson  retired. 

In  June,  1878,  the  newspaper  plant  was  moved  to 
the  rooms  on  the  upper  floor  of  the  brick  block  on  the 
east  comer  of  Main  and  Orange  Streets,  where  it  con- 
tinued publication  until  May,  1890,  when  it  was  again 
moved  to  a  building  erected  for  its  use  on  Milk  Street, 
remaining  there  ten  years.  In  October,  1900,  the 
paper  moved  to  its  present  quarters  in  Folger  Block, 
comer  of  Main  and  Orange  Streets. 


33^  Nantucket 

For  twenty  years  after  the  retirement  of  Henry  D. 
Robinson  from  the  firm,  The  Inquirer  and  Mirror  was 
pubUshed  and  edited  by  Roland  B.  Hussey,  whose 
efforts  brought  the  paper  up  to  a  high  standard  as  a 
country  weekly.  In  July,  1907,  Mr.  Hussey  retired 
from  the  business,  and  was  succeeded  by  Arthur  H. 
Cook  and  Harry  B.  Turner,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Cook  &  Turner,  the  present  publishers. 

The  plant  of  The  Inquirer  and  Mirror  has  gradually, 
but  steadily,  become  modernized.  Prior  to  1887,  its 
press  was  laboriously  turned  by  means  of  a  hand-crank, 
but  in  that  year  the  first  mechanical  power  was  in- 
stalled— a  one-horse  kerosene  engine — and  since  that 
time  numerous  further  improvements  in  power  have 
been  made. 

In  1890,  a  modem  cylinder  press  was  installed,  and 
shortly  afterwards  an  automatic  folding-machine  was 
added;  and  in  1902  the  first  type-setting  machine  on 
the  island  was  installed,  the  first  issue  of  The  Inquirer 
and  Mirror  under  machine  composition  being  on  the 
29th  of  March.  Other  modem  appliances  have  since 
been  added  to  the  mechanical  equipment,  the  while 
an  earnest  and  painstaking  effort  has  been  made  to 
maintain  the  standard  of  newspaper  inaugurated  by 
Samuel  Haynes  Jenks  ninety-odd  years  ago. 

Having  had  many  contemporaries  since  The  Inquirer 
was  first  published  in  1821,  The  Inquirer  and  Mirror 
is  now  alone  in  the  newspaper  field  on  Nantucket  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  island's  "institutions,"  making 
its  weekly  visits  to  every  quarter  of  the  globe. 

The  last  daily  paper  published  on  Nantucket  was 
The  Sconset  Visitor,  issued  from  the  Journal  office 
during  the  summer  of  1889.  The  previous  season 
The  Sconset  Pump  had  been  issued  as  a  daily  from  The 


The  Newspapers  of  Nantucket         339 

Inquirer  and  Mirror  office,  but  neither  was  a  paying 
investment,  and  each  was  a  diminutive  affair. 

In  1873,  S.  Heath  Rich  issued  an  amateur  journal 
from  a  small  hand  press,  it  being  a  four-page  sheet, 
8>^  X  12  inches,  called  The  Magnet,  two  columns  to  a 
page,  six  inches  long.  Later  in  the  seventies  Fred 
V.  Fuller  also  issued  a  little  paper  which  he  called  The 
Sherburne  News,  which  flourished  for  a  brief  period. 
For  amateur  journals  these  were  both  very  creditable 
productions. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

IN  THE  DREDGE-NET* 

The  Town-House  and  Town-Meeting.  The  original 
civic  assembly-hall  on  Nantucket  was  a  room  in  the 
house  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  Starbuck,  which  was 
known  as  the  "Parliament  House,"  and  was  instituted 
about  1667. 

In  1707,  a  vote  was  passed  that  "the  Town-house 
should  be  repaired."  In  17 16,  an  order  was  made  that 
certain  notices  should  be  "posted  on  the  door  of  town- 
house."  In  this  year,  also,  the  town  voted  to  "build 
a  town-house  34  feet  long,  and  24  feet  wide,"  and  the 
site  of  this  has  been  localized  as  having  been  on  the 
south  side  of  West  Center  Street,  nearly  north  of  No- 
Bottom  Pond.  It  thus  appears  that  the  town-house 
was  one  of  the  first  public  buildings  erected  on  the 
island. 

In  1783,  it  was  determined  to  move  the  town-house 
again,  and  it  was  placed  at  the  comer  of  Milk  and 
Main  Streets,  where  it  remained  for  sixty  or  seventy 
years.  This  building  was  a  plain  and  unpretentious 
one,  with  a  square  roof,  and  was  neither  structurally 

'  In  this  chapter  are  included  items  of  historical  interest  which, 
while  difficult  to  retain  in  a  consecutive  narrative,  are  nevertheless  of 
such  importance  as  to  justify  preservation. 

340 


In  the  Dredge-Net  341 

nor  architecturally  imposing.  Its  seats  were  upright 
and  unpainted,  arranged  in  tiers,  one  above  another, 
and  its  walls  were  undecorated  by  even  a  picture. 
Many  a  time,  however,  these  desolate-looking  walls 
re-echoed  with  fervid  oratory  in  the  days  before  the 
Civil  War,  when  the  question  of  abolition  and  many 
another  burning  theme  were  discussed  before  -"the 
House." 

Eventually  it  was  sold,  and  the  town-meetings  were 
subsequently  held  either  in  the  upper  story  of  the  West 
schoolhouse,  the  lower  story  of  Academy  Hill  school- 
house,  or  in  Atlantic  Hall  on  Main  Street.  Early  in 
the  seventies,  when  no  purchaser  could  be  found  for 
the  South  schoolhouse,  on  Orange  Street,  the  town- 
hall  was  reconstituted  in  its  upper  story,  and  here  it 
remains. 

But,  wherever  the  town-house  may  have  been  placed, 
it  is  regarded  by  all  good  Nantucketers  as  the  cradle 
of  their  liberties.  Almost  from  the  time  of  the  settle- 
ment, attendance  at  town-meeting  was  esteemed  as 
one  of  their  greatest  privileges  by  the  forefathers,  and, 
amid  the  alternating  prosperity  and  adversity  of  the 
island,  this  privilege  has  passed  down  from  father  to 
son,  from  generation  to  generation,  amid  peace  and  war, 
amid  the  distortions  of  politics  and  the  transmutations 
of  religious  faith ;  and  it  still  stands  pre-eminent  as  the 
embodiment  of  municipal  rights  ever  sustained,  ever 
appreciated  by  loyal  and  patriotic  citizens  of  the  island. 
"The  local  legislature,"  as  the  town-house  has  been 
aptly  called,  has  always  been  carried  on,  in  the  main, 
within  parliamentary  lines,  notwithstanding  many 
scenes  of  perfervid  eloquence  and  passionate  zeal 
which  have  been  enacted  within  its  walls. 

Under  the  presidency  of  the  moderator  and  the  cor- 


342  Nantucket 

porate  wisdom  of  the  Selectmen,  the  democratic  As- 
sembly preserves  the  courtesy  and  decorum  of  debate 
in  allowing  every  citizen  to  express  his  views,  and  in 
the  genial  acceptance  of  the  decisions  of  the  majority. 
It  is,  indeed,  a  time-hallowed  institution,  having 
been  in  existence  for  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years;  and  while  it  has  been  the  arbiter  morum  of  the 
town  from  time  immemorial,  it  is  still  the  controlling 
influence  in  working  out  and  regulating  its  destiny, 
for  everything  concerning  the  municipality  is  valid 
only  when  the  sign  of  "the  local  legislature's"  approval 
has  been  affixed. 

Cemeteries.  There  is  considerable  uncertainty  as 
to  the  location  of  the  Indian  burying-places  on  the 
island,  but,  as  stated  elsewhere,  the  writer  believes  they 
were  situated  for  the  most  part  near  the  shore-line, 
and  in  course  of  time  have  been  washed  away.  It  is 
very  probable  that  there  was  one  at  Shawkemo,  and 
another  near  a  point  intersected  by  the  railroad,  north 
of  the  upper  end  of  Miacomet  Pond. 

The  original,  or  ancient  (white)  cemetery,  was  set 
apart  at  an  early  period,  on  the  hill  near  Maxcy's  Pond. 
John  Gardner  was  buried  there  in  1706,  and  his  was 
the  last  gravestone  left  standing  in  1881 ;  in  that  year 
a  new  granite  headstone  was  erected  in  its  place.  In 
1883,  the  remnant  of  the  old  stone  was  removed  to  the 
"Oldest  House,"  where  it  may  still  be  seen.  The  last 
burial  in  the  old  burying-place  was  that  of  Jonathan 
Coffin  and  his  wife,  who  both  died  in  1773.  On  the 
burial-hill  is  now  erected  a  memorial  to  the  early 
settlers,  many  of  whom  were  interred  in  its  immediate 
vicinity. 

The  first  burial-place  of   the  Friends  was  a  little 


In  the  Dredge-Net  343 

southeast  of  the  ancient  cemetery,  and  was  used  from 
1705  or  1706  until  1731.  Here,  in  171 7,  was  buried 
the  famous  Mary  Starbuck ;  also  her  husband  Nathaniel, 
in  1 7 19;  and  Stephen  Hussey  was  interred  in  this 
cemetery  in  17 18. 

In  Nantucket  town,  there  are  six  cemeteries  still  in 
use,  viz. :  the  Prospect  Hill  or  Unitarian  Cemetery,  on 
Prospect  Street,  first  used  in  181 1. 

The  Old  North  Cemetery,  at  the  northwest  comer 
of  New  and  Grove  Lanes,  where  many  quaint  and  inter- 
esting inscriptions  may  be  found.  This  was  originally 
called  the  "Gardner  Burying-ground,"  as  the  Gardners 
instituted  it  for  themselves  originally,  and  it  was 
afterwards  taken  over  by  the  North  Church.  It  was 
probably  laid  out  during  the  first  decade  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

The  North  Cemetery  is  contiguous  to  the  Old  North. 

The  Friends'  burial-place  is  at  the  head  of  Main 
Street.  Here  there  are  no  floral  moiuids  or  "storied 
urns"  to  tell  of  those  interred  beneath  the  tangled 
moorland  vines,  grass,  and  weeds;  not  even  a  wild 
flower  decks  this  simple  field  of  rest  and  peace;  and 
yet  it  is  said  that  ten  thousand  bodies  have  mouldered 
into  dust  within  this  unadorned  but  sacred  enclosure. 

In  one  comer  of  the  cemetery  are,  however,  a  few 
small  markers  to  distinguish  the  graves  of  those  who 
belonged  to  the  Hicksite  section  of  the  Society,  to  whom 
the  world  appealed  in  a  greater  degree  than  it  did  to 
the  more  orthodox  Wilburites;  but  what  matter  such 
distinctions  here, 

"  Where  Life  is  perfected  by  Death  "! 

The  South  Cemetery  is  in  the  south  part  of  the  town, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  Asylum. 


344  Nantucket 

It  is  also  known  as  the  Newtown  Cemetery  and  com- 
prises about  two  acres. 

The  Roman  CathoUc  burial-ground  on  Prospect 
Hill  is  comparatively  modem. 

The  cemetery  for  people  of  color  is  in  the  southern 
district  of  the  town,  and  has  many  graves. 

There  is  also  a  burial-ground  at  Polpis  which  has 
been  in  existence  for  many  years. 

In  former  days,  also,  a  number  of  people  were  buried 
"at  the  Quaise  Farm  when  the  Asylum  was  there."' 

At  the  rooms  of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association 
may  be  seen  a  card  catalogue  containing  all  the  de- 
cipherable inscriptions  upon  the  old  headstones. 

Mills  and  Manufactures.  In  addition  to  what  has 
already  been  referred  to  in  Chapter  V.,  with  regard  to 
the  "Old  Windmill"  still  remaining,  the  following  ad- 
ditional particulars  may  be  interesting.  It  was  built 
for  a  Nantucket  company  in  1746.  After  some  years, 
it  became  the  property  of  Eliakim  Swain  and  the  Swain 
heirs,  and  in  1828  was  purchased  as  fuel  for  twenty 
dollars  by  Jared  Gardner.  In  1834,  and  again  in  1840, 
it  was  advertised  for  sale  by  Jared  Gardner,  and  was 
bought  by  George  Enos,  who  held  it  until  1864,  when 
it  was  again  sold  to  Captain  John  Murray,  who  finally 
sold  it  to  John  Francis  Sylvia,  in  1866.  After  Sylvia's 
death  it  was  sold  by  auction,  and,  after  brisk  competi- 
tion, Miss  C.  L.  W.  French,  of  Boston,  became  its 
possessor  for  the  sum  of  $850.  Miss  French,  with 
her  usual  generosity,  and  in  the  belief  that  such  an 
interesting  landmark  should  become  the  inalienable 
possession  of  the  island,  presented  it  to  the  Nantucket 
Historical  Association,  who  are  careful  in  keeping  it 

•  W.  C.  Folger. 


In  the  Dredge-Net  345 

in  perfect  repair,  and  who  have  installed  a  keeper 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  and  explaining  its 
structure  and  history  to  the  thousands  of  visitors 
who  evince  a  lively  interest  in  this  attractive  relic  of 
the  past. ' 

To  the  south  of  the  mill  is  Dead  Horse  Valley,  where, 
it  is  said,  formerly  grew  the  oak-trees  of  which  the  mill 
was  built.  There  was  not  a  nail  or  bolt  used  in  its 
construction,  and  its  oaken  pegs  are  still  in  excellent 
condition.  From  its  upper  window  a  splendid  view 
can  be  obtained. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  gaps  the  old  mill 
has  been  grinding  corn  for  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  years  consecutively.  When  fully  in  opera- 
tion, it  had  a  capacity  of  ten  bushels  an  hour, 
but  one  man  being  required  to  perform  the  oper- 
ations. The  miller,  according  to  old  custom,  re- 
ceived about  ten  per  cent,  of  the  grain  ground,  as 
compensation. 

Other  Old  Mills  and  Manufactures.  Exclusive  of 
the  mills  already  mentioned,  one  was  erected  in  1834, 
for  the  combined  purpose  of  grinding  com  and  sawing 
logs,  also  staves  for  oil-casks.  This  was  operated  by 
Simeon  Starbuck  and  Philip  H.  Folger.  Previous  to 
1800,  there  was  a  horse-power  grist-mill  on  Pine  Street, 
which,  however,  was  soon  abandoned,  and  the  proprie- 
tor (Joseph  Chase)  built  the  wind  grist-mill  which 
stood  near  New  Lane.  It  was  taken  down  about 
1872. 

"A  wind-mill  was  erected  on  his  house  on  North 
Liberty  Street,  by  Thomas  B.  Field,  in  1875.     The 

*  Mrs.  Eva  C.  G.  Folger,  opus  cit. 


346  Nantucket 

vanes  were  horizontal,  and  are  said  to  have  worked 
easily  in  certain  directions  of  the  wind."' 

In  1 66 1,  the  Gardner  brothers  built  a  tide-mill  east 
of  Mill  Brook,  and,  in  1673,  they  built  a  fulling-mill 
at  Polpis. 

In  1 74 1,  Tristram  Starbuck  and  Zaccheus  Macy 
set  up  a  fulling-mill. 

In  1763,  a  mill  was  built  at  Polpis  Neck,  and  in  1786 
it  was  removed  to  Polpis. 

A  fulling-mill  was  erected  at  Mill  Brook,  near  the 
old  Madeket  road,  at  the  west  end  of  the  island  in 
1863. 

Another  fulling-mill  was  operated  in  Shawkemo  in 
1770,  and  was  working  as  late  as  1828  or  1830. 

There  was  a  fulling-mill  at  Quaise  which  was  stand- 
ing in  1820. 

In  1772,  a  fulling  and  coloring  mill  was  in  operation 
between  the  schoolhouse  at  Polpis  and  the  Milton 
House  and  ran  until  1796-97.^ 

When  to  the  manufacture  of  sperm  oil  and  candles 
was  added  the  manufacture  of  whale  and  sea-elephant 
oils,  the  total  number  of  factories  in  Nantucket  was 
thirty-six,  representing  an  annual  product  of  from  one 
to  one  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars.  The  fitting  out 
of  about  ninety  ships  and  smaller  vessels  involved  the 
manufacture  of  casks,  packages  for  candles,  boats,  iron 
work,  duck,  cordage,  etc.,  aggregating  about  $160,000, 
including  fifty  thousand  casks  or  barrels.  Twenty- two 
were  coopers'  shops  in  operation,  and  eleven  or  twelve 
blacksmiths'   forges  for    ironwork.     There    were   also 

'  Mrs.  Eva  C.  G.  Folger,  The  Glacier's  Gift,  p.  93. 

*  For  many  of  the  above  items  the  writer  is  indebted  to  Mrs.  Folger. 


In  the  Dredge-Net  347 

utilized  thirty-five  thousand  candle-boxes,  from 
eighty  to  one  hundred  whale-boats,  fifteen  hundred 
bolts  of  duck,  wrought  into  sails,  etc.  These 
amounts  represent  the  outlay  required  annually  for 
the  business  of  this  isolated  community.  There 
were  likewise  ten  rope-walks  in  operation  at  one 
time,  for  the  making  of  cordage  for  the  whaling-ships 
and  others. 

The  first  cut-nails  ever  used  on  the  island  were 
made  by  Eliphalet  Paddack  about  1797  or  '98,  and  he 
continued  to  make  them  in  Pine  Street  for  several  years 
after  1800. 

A  duck  factory  was  established  by  Joseph  Chase  and 
others  in  1792  or  '93,  and  was  carried  on  for  six  or  seven 
years. 

For  many  years  a  twine  factory  was  operated. 

During  the  war  of  18 12,  a  woollen  factory  was  estab- 
hshed  by  Obed.  Mitchell  on  the  New  North  Wharf; 
this  continued  until  18 18.  It  employed  a  force  of  two 
hundred  persons. 

Salt-works  of  an  extensive  character  were  erected  on 
Brant  Point  and  on  Quaise  Point. 

A  large  brush  and  bellows  factory  was  established 
during  the  War  of  18 12,  on  Academy  Hill,  and  was 
carried  on  for  several  years  afterwards;  and  there  was 
a  linen-coat  factory  on  Quince  Street,  run  by  John  W. 
Hallett  in  the  seventies  or  eighties. 

From,  an  early  period,  and  for  many  years,  three 
leather  tanneries  were  in  full  operation  on  land  east 
of  Union  Street. 

The  first  steam  mill  erected  on  the  island  was  estab- 
lished on  the  North  Beach  by  Daniel  Mitchell  in  1832 
or  '33,  for  the  manufacture  of  candle-boxes,  etc. ;  an- 
other on  a  more  extensive  scale  was  built  later  on  the 


348  Nantucket 

South  Beach,  by  Levi  Starbuck,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  casks,  candle-boxes,  grain-grinding,  and  the 
planing  of  boards,  and  was  continued  until  the  general 
decline. 

From  1834,  ^  silk  factory  also,  on  Gay  Street,  was 
operated  by  Aaron  Mitchell,  and  the  writer  has  seen 
a  beautiful  specimen  of  its  manufacture,  now  in  the 
possession  of  Alexander  Starbuck.  A  brass  foundry 
was  run  on  South  Beach  in  1821,  and  a  straw  manufac- 
tory, boot  manufactories,  block  and  pump  manu- 
factories elsewhere  on  the  island.  In  addition  to  these, 
there  was  a  coast-wise  and  coast-wide  trade  extending 
from  Portland,  Me.,  to  New  Orleans,  in  Louisiana, 
which  kept  constantly  running  about  twenty-six  sloops 
and  schooners,  regular  packets,  besides  lumber, 
coal,  and  wood  vessels;  but  silence  reigns  over  all 
now!^ 

Wharves.  There  are  five  wharves  in  Nantucket, 
the  first,  built  in  or  before  1723,  and  known  as  the 
Straight  Wharf,  being  at  least  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  years  old. 

What  scenes  must  this  old  pile  have  mutely  witnessed 
during  Nantucket's  alternating  waves  of  prosperity 
and  adversity!  How  many  ships  have  sailed  away 
from  its  anchorage,  buoyed  up  with  hope  and  happiness 
and  returned  in  safety  to  find  their  loved  ones  with 
loving  hearts  waiting  to  welcome  them  home  again! 
How  many  have  sailed  away  cheerily, — 'alas,  never  to 
return  again !  What  rejoicings  in  prosperity  must  this 
old  pile  have  seen — what  suffering  and  poverty  when 
times  were  bad,  and  the  curse  of  war  had  desolated  the 

'  The  Story  of  the  Island-Steamers,  pp.  122-125. 


In  the  Dredge-Net  349 

hearths  and  homes  of  the  islanders !  Old  age  may  have 
rotted  its  timbers  but  it  is  still  a  monument  to  its 
builders.  It  has  done  its  work  well:  would  that  a 
mighty  fleet  of  whaling  ships  required  its  services  even 
now!  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  other  wharves: 
Commercial  Wharf,  about  or  after  1800. 
Old  South,  or  Swain's  Wharf  1 

Old  North,  or  Perry's  Wharf  [about  1770. 

The  New  North,  or  Steamboat  Wharf  J 
There  was  a  fire  on  the  South  Wharf  in  1769,  when 
several   buildings   were   destroyed,   and   the   loss   was 
estimated  at  $11,000, 

Indian  Pestilence.     Of  the  pestilence  which  assailed 
the  Indians  in  1764  the  following  details  may  be  inter- 
esting : 
34     were  sick  and  recovered. 
36     living  among  the  Indians  were  not  affected. 

8     living  by  themselves  in  the  west  end  escaped. 
40     living  among  the  whites  entirely  escaped. 
18     were  at  sea  during  the  epidemic  and  escaped. 
222     died  of  the  epidemic. 


358     total  number  of  Indians  on  the  island  before  the 
outbreak  of  the  epidemic. ' 

Dates  of  Whale-fishing  before  the  Revolution: 

Davis  Strait,  1746. 

The  Island  of  Disco,  Baffin's  Bay,  1751. 

Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  1761. 

Coast  of  Guinea,  1763. 

Western  Islands,  1765. 

Eastward  of  Newfoundland  Banks,  1765. 

Coasts  of  Brazil,  1774. 

'  Obed.  Macy. 


350  Nantucket 

The  Monument.  The  monument  erected  in  Main 
Street  is  in  memory  of  the  brave  islanders  who  perished 
during  the  Civil  War,  all  of  whom  freely  gave  their 
lives  in  patriotic  zeal  for  the  land  they  loved.  The 
names  of  seventy-four  of  the  heroic  dead  are  chiseled 
in  granite  on  the  tablets  of  the  memorial,  but,  deeply 
graved  within  the  hearts  of  their  fellow  islanders,  from 
generation  to  generation,  their  memories  will  outlive 
the  records  on  bronze  or  marble;  while  the  flag  for 
which  they  died,  and  the  laurel  wreaths  they  won  shall 
be  renewed  for  countless  years,  as  long  as  patriotism 
is  cherished  on  "the  little  purple  island." 

The  inscription,  which  was  written  by  the  late  Wil- 
liam Hussey  Macy,  and  which  was  pronounced  by 
President  Eliot  of  Harvard  College,  on  a  visit  to  the 
island  some  years  ago,  to  be  the  best  he  had  seen  on 
any  soldier's  monument  in  this  country,  is  as  follows: 
"Eternal  Honor  to  the  Sons  of  Nantucket,  who  by 
Land  and  Sea,  gave  their  Lives  to  Present  a  United 
Country."  Peace  to  their  ashes!  All  honor  to  the 
brave ! 

Rotch  Market  was  built,  for  business  purposes,  in 
1772,  by  William  Rotch,  a  successful  and  enterprising 
Nantucketer.  He  was  a  high-spirited  townsman,  and 
served  the  best  interests  of  the  community  in  many 
ways.  He  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
died  in  1828. 

Rotch  Market  is  situated  at  the  bottom  of  Main 
Street.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  building  is  the  custom- 
house; but  the  large  lower  room  has  become  famous  as 
the  "Pacific  Club,"  wherein,  in  days  gone  by,  the 
shipowners  and  their  agents — known  as  the  "House 
of  Lords" — mingled  in  good  fellowship  with  the  cap- 


In  the  Dredge-Net  351 

tains  and  other  ship's  officers,  distinguished  as  "the 
House  of  Commons."  The  shipowners  have,  alas, 
long  departed,  and  there  are  but  few  of  the  old  captains 
left ;  but  there  is  still  happily  a  remnant  to  tell  of  the 
dangers  of  the  deep,  and  to  spin  yarns  to  any  extent 
for  the  entertainment  of  any  strangers  who  may  chance 
to  meet  them  there,  and  who  are  always  welcome,  if 
properly  introduced. 

Newtown  Gate.  This  gate  extended  across  the 
southern  end  of  Orange  Street  in  the  good  old  days 
when  many  hundreds  of  sheep  browsed  uncontrolled 
upon  the  flowery  moorlands.  A  toll  of  one  cent  was 
exacted  for  passing  through. 

Ancient  Names  of  Nantucket : 

Natocke.     De  Laet's  map,  1630. 

Nautican.  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  (born  1566,  died  1647). 
Vide  Drake's  Nooks  and  Corners,  p.  325. 

Nantican.     Hough's  Book,  1641. 

Nauticon.     Macy's  History,  p.  17. 

Nantocket.     1703. 

Nantoe.         Map  1746. 

Neutocket.     "         " 

Natacei.  "        " 

Nantuket.       "         " 

Nantucket.     Huske. 

Nantukket.     De  la  Tour. 

Nantukes     ] 

Mantukes     >ln  patents  and  other  documents. 

NantucquetJ 

Natocket.  This  is  probably  the  spelling  representing  the 
aboriginal  name.  It  thus  signifies  "at  the 
far  away  land,"  or  "the  land  far  off"  (at 
sea).     H.  B.  Worth. 


352 

Nantucket 

Principals  of  High 

School. 

1838-1912. 

Cyrus  Pierce 

1838  (February  to  June) 

Augustus  Morse 

1838 

Alden  B.  Whipple 

1855 

B.  F.  Morrison 

1858 

Henry  Dame 

1862 

Galen  Allen 

1865 

LoRiN  L,  Dame 

1867 

George  R.  Chase 

1869 

Charles  A.  Baker 

1871 

CM.  Barrows 

1871 

A.  B.  Whipple  (2d  term) 

1876 

W.  H.  Spinney 

1879 

G.  I.  Hopkins 

1880 

A.  H.  K.  Blood 

1880-81 

W.  H.  Russell 

1881-82 

A.  J.  Clough 

1882-85 

Lucius  W.  Craig 

1885-88 

William  J.  Long 

1888-91 

DwiGHT  Miner 

1891-92 

Fred.  P.  Batchelder 

1892-93 

Stanley  E.  Johnson 

I 893-1900 

Herbert  H.  Rice 

I 900- I 90 I 

Frank  E.  Briggs 

1901-1906 

Benjamin  M.  Macy 

I 906-1 907 

M.  M.  Harris 

1907-1909 

J.  Arthur  Burton 

1909;  still  in  office,  1912 

An  Early  Abolitionist.  It  is  worthy  of  mention 
that,  as  far  back  as  1733,  Elihu  Coleman,  whose 
house  is  still  standing  on  the  old  Madeket  road,  and 
who  was  one  of  the  preaching  brethren  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  published  an  eloquent  plea  for 
the  abolition  of  slavery,  entitled :  A  Testimony  against 
the  Anti- Christian  Practice  of  Making  Slaves  of  Men. 
In  connection  with  this  and  in  justice  to  the  Society 


In  the  Dredge-Net 


353 


of  Friends  it  is  only  fair  to  emphasize  the  following 
fact: 

At  the  Nantucket  monthly  meeting  the  following 
resolution  was  carried :  "  It  is  not  agreeable  to  truth  for 
Friends  to  purchase  slaves  and  hold  them  term  of  liffe." 


Population  of  the  Island : 

1719 

1726 

1764 

1774 
1784 
1790 
1800 
1810 
1820 
1830 
1840 
1850 
i860 
1865 
1870 

1875 
1880 
1890 
1900 
1905 
1910 


721  whites 
917 
3220 

4545 

4269  (war). 

4620 

5617 
6807 
7226 
7202 
9712 

8779 
6094 
4830 

4123 
3201 

3727 
3268 
3006 
2930 
2962 


"  The  Camels.  "  The  following  description  of  the 
detachable  dry-docks — known  as  "Camels," — ^ which 
were  used  for  floating  ships  over  the  bar,  the  invention 
of  Peter  F.  Ewer  (father  of  the  late  Rev,  Dr.  Ewer),  is 
from  the  pen  of  William  C.  Macy: 

They  resembled  two  immense  blocks  of  wood,  each  half  as 
large  as  a  ship,  with  no  top  rigging,  each  block  with  a  ron- 
23 


354  Nantucket 

cave  side,  the  shape  of  a  ship.  They  were  135  feet  long, 
19  feet  deep,  and  29  feet  bottom;  20  feet  wide  on  deck, 
drawing  2  feet  9  inches,  and  connected  at  the  bottom  by  15 
chains  capable  of  bearing  800  tons. 

Each  camel  was  divided  into  two  parts,  the  lower  hold 
and  between  decks.  The  lower  hold  contained  12  apart- 
ments, six  on  each  side,  the  between  decks  10  apartments 
each.  These  huge  arrangements  were  easily  filled  with 
water  and  sunk  to  any  required  depth.  The  ship  then 
sailed  between  the  two,  and  was  clasped  in  the  embrace  of 
the  camels  whose  concave  sides  just  fitted  the  shape  of  the 
ship.  Of  course  these  fifteen  chains  were  under  her  bottom 
and  when  she  was  securely  in  the  embrace  of  the  camels, 
they  being  drawn  together  and  secured  tightly,  the  pumping 
out  of  the  12,000  barrels  of  water  each  held,  commenced. 
The  race-way  running  through  each  camel  from  stern  to 
stern,  and  through  which  they  were  filled  with  water,  was 
closed,  and  by  the  use  of  a  double-acting  force-pump  of  six 
horse  power,  in  a  comparatively  short  time  the  water  was 
pumped  or  forced  out,  and  as  the  water  left,  the  ship  and 
camels  rose  together,  the  whole  drawing  so  little  water  that, 
as  was  the  case  with  the  Constitution  (the  first  ship  carried 
over  the  Bar  by  their  aid)  a  ship  could  be  taken  over  the 
Bar  fully  loaded. 

The  camels  were  introduced  in  1842,  but  were  little 
used,  were  soon  abandoned  entirely,  and  were  finally 
sold  for  a  comparatively  small  sum  after  being  in  use 
for  five  or  six  years.  An  excellent  model  of  the  camels 
may  be  seen  at  the  Historical  Society's  rooms. 

Jetties.     In  1880  an  appropriation  of  $50,000  was 

obtained  from  the  Government  for  the  purpose  of  sea- 
dredging,  and  the  building  of  jetties  at  Nantucket. 
The  western  jetty,  imder  the  cliff,  on  the  north  shore 
was  commenced  in  1881 ;  it  bears  a  red  light  at  the  end. 


In  the  Dredge-Net  355 

The  eastern  jetty,  begun  a  few  years  later,  extending  into 
the  Sound  from  Coatue,  carries  a  white  Hght.  The  build- 
ing of  these  jetties  occupied  a  number  of  years,  and  in 
time  they  must  be  extended.  Sea-dredging  has  been 
carried  on  from  time  to  time,  but  much  more  is  necessary ; 
and  everything  depends  upon  an  adequate  appropriation. 

Ponds.  The  following  list  of  Nantucket  ponds  ap- 
pears in  a  book  of  surveys,  by  the  late  Benjamin  Bunker, 
who  died  on  April  14,  1842,  aged  ninety-one  years. 

Acres  in  area   Rods 


Hummock  or  W  aqmttaquah 

320 

Sacacha 

310 

56 

Long  Pond 

216 

151 

Miacomet 

45 

128 

Gibbs's 

31 

93 

Cupaum 

23 

24 

Fulling-mill  Pond 

10 

24 

Jonathan  Small's  Pond 

4 

46 

Maxcy's  Pond 

10 

88 

Madequecham  Pond 

7 

23 

Mioxes  Pond 

15 

95 

Nobodeer  Pond 

7 

104 

Offey's  Pond 

5 

51 

Cain's  Pond 

6 

52 

Poot  No.  I  Pond 

I 

148 

Poot  No.  2  Pond 

I 

49 

Bellows  Pond 

I 

66 

Reedy  Pond  (near  Mioxes) 

4 

27 

Reed  Pond  (Wannacomet) 

5 

8 

Sheep  Pond 

4 

123 

Shallow  Pond 

0 

52 

Wannacomet  Pond 

7 

51 

Weeweder 

5 

97 

Wigwam  or  Toupche 

_3 

Ji 

Total  acreage 

1049 

33 

356  Nantucket 

The  following  additional  ponds  are  figured  on  Dr. 
Ewer's  map,  as  existing  in  1869,  but  some  of  them  have 
dried  up: 

North  Pond  Rotten  Pumpkin  Pond 

Saul's  Pond  Forked  Ponds 

Wigwam  Ponds  (Saul's  Hills)  Almanack  Pond 

Cato's  Pond  Tom  Never's  Pond 
Mika's  Pond 

Flagroot  Pond  Pest-House  Pond 

These  altogether  aggregate  thirty-seven  ponds  on 
the  island  irrespective  of  extensive  swamps,  some  of 
which  formerly  contained  from  one  hundred  to  three 
hundred  acres.  Some  of  these  were  subsequently 
cleared  and  made  into  valuable  meadow-land,  especially 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  town. 

The  Hon  Walter  Folger's  Astronomical  Clock.  This 
wonderful  clock  was  first  set  in  motion  on  July  4, 
1790,  and  has  been  going  ever  since. 

But  mere  time-keeping  is  but  a  small  part  of  its  surpris- 
ing capacity.  In  its  metallic  dial-plate  is  a  truncated  ellip- 
tical slit,  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  wide,  in  which  daily 
circulates  a  bright,  golden  ball  representing  the  sun,  which 
daily  rises  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  slit,  and  sets  and  dis- 
appears at  the  western  end  of  it  at  the  exact  recorded  al- 
manac time;  the  difference  in  the  length  of  the  days  being 
regulated  by  a  slide  at  the  end  of  this  roadway  which  moved 
up  or  down  by  automatic  machinery,  according  to  the 
requisition  of  each  day.  The  same  machinery  also  records 
the  sun's  due  place  in  the  ecliptic.  Outside  this  pathway 
of  the  sun  is  another  similar  slit,  concentric  to  the  first,  in 
which  the  moon  performs  her  daily  and  nightly  journey, 
indicating  her  southing,  and  the  time  of  full  sea  at  Nan- 


In  the  Dredge-Net  357 

tucket,  and  also  the  chief  phenomena  attendant  upon  the 
obhquity  of  her  path,  the  revolutions  of  her  nodes,  the 
hunter's  and  harvest  moons;  and  in  one  item  involving  a 
recurrent  motion  of  the  machinery  for  a  period  of  eighteen 
years  and  some  days.  Near  the  top  of  the  dial  is  another 
small  slit,  horizontal,  where  appears  the  date  of  the  year, 
with  such  contrivance  that  exactly  at  midnight  of  the  day 
which  closes  up  the  year,  the  old  figures  are  politely  dis- 
missed, or  benevolently  released  from  further  service,  and 
the  necessary  new  ones  take  their  place,  ready  to  salute 
the  awakening  inmates  with  "A  Happy  New  Year." 

Not  even  is  that  all;  once  in  a  hundred  years  there  are 
century  figures  to  be  changed ;  and  this  also  is  duly  provided 
for  by  a  wheel  so  arranged  as  to  revolve  once  in  a  hundred 
years  in  the  following  manner;  remaining  motionless  for 
ten  years,  then  starting  along  one  notch,  and  so  on  through 
ten  notches  until  the  century  is  complete. 

In  the  lifetime  of  the  maker,  at  12  o'clock  midnight, 
December  31,  1799,  three  hoary  and  faded  figures  meekly 
withdrew,  and  three  bright  and  beardless  youngsters 
stepped  briskly  into  their  places  shouting  "  1800!"  One  of 
the  best  authentic  instances  of  spontaneous  generation! 

Walter  Folger,  the  maker  of  this  marvellous  clock,  men- 
tally planned  it  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  and  submitting 
the  plan  to  his  father,  himself  a  mathematical  genius,  was 
encouraged  to  undertake  its  construction.  With  his  own 
hands  he  made  every  part  of  it,  and  set  it  in  operation  in 
1790,  from  which  date  it  never  failed  in  its  contemplated 
movements  until  his  death  in  1849.  Since  that  time  it  has 
been  once  taken  to  pieces  and  cleaned;  and  through  the 
lack  of  the  extraordinary  knowledge  and  skill  necessary  to 
perfect  adjustment,  it  now  hesitates  in  the  performance  of 
some  of  its  former  matchless  feats. ' — From  New  York  Times. 

Brant  Point  Lighthouse.  As  there  has  been  much 
discussion  as  to  the  date  of  erection  of  the  first  light- 

^  This  clock  is  now  in  the  possession  of  John  B.  Folger,  of  Nantucket. 


358  Nantucket 

house  at  Brant  Point,  a  few  additional  facts  may  be 
mentioned  here.  There  can  be  Httle  doubt  that  it  was 
built  in  1746.  This  opinion  was  strongly  maintained 
by  the  late  S.  F.  Sanford,  who  thoroughly  examined  the 
question,  and  Brant  Point  Lighthouse  could  not  have 
been,  as  has  been  alleged,  the  first  erected  in  the  United 
States,  as  that  in  Boston  Harbor  was  undoubtedly 
built  in  1 71 5. 

The  first  Nantucket  lighthouse  was  burnt  down  in 
1759,  a  second  was  blown  down  in  1774,  a  third  was 
burned  in  1783,  and  several  of  a  temporary  character 
were  subsequently  erected.  The  Government  assumed 
control  in  1795,^  and  erected  the  present  brick  and 
stone  building  in  1856.  This  was  used  until  1900, 
when  it  was  discontinued  and  a  smaller  wooden  tower 
built  on  the  beach  at  low  water  owing  to  difficulties 
engendered  by  the  jetties  interfering  with  the  range 
of  the  light. 

The  present  light  is  the  tenth  that  has  been  erected 
on  Brant  Point,  and  Nantucket  has  had  a  beacon  burn- 
ing on  her  coast  for  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  years, 
thus  leading  in  this  as  in  many  other  respects.  ^ 

Societies,  Clubs,  and  Institutions.  There  are  few 
existing  localities  of  Nantucket's  size  which  have  had 
more  numerous  or  more  varied  social,  economic,  edu- 
cational, and  charitable  organizations.  So  numerous, 
indeed  have  they  been  that  the  bare  enumeration  of 
some  of  them  is  all  that  can  be  attempted  here. 

Among  the  earliest,  if  not  the  first,  are  the  Ladies' 
Howard  Society,  incorporated  1846,  and  the  Nantucket 
Agricultural  Society,  which,  founded  in   1856,  has  re- 

'"June  23,  1795":  State-House,  Boston. 
'Vide,  chapter  XIV. 


In  the  Dredge-Net  359 

cently  held  its  fifty-sixth  annual  meeting,  and  is  still 
prosperous. 

The  Relief  Association  was  founded  February  25, 
1873,  and  incorporated  in  1874.  The  Farmers'  Insti- 
tute was  organized  about  1880;  the  Sherburne  Lyceum 
■ — a  literary  and  debating  society — was  instituted  in 
1877,  and  after  much  success  gradually  died  out.  , 

Among  others  are :  the  Children's  Aid  Society,  organ- 
ized in  1869,  and  incorporated  in  1894;  the  Union 
Benevolent  Society,  incorporated  in  1883;  the  Industrial 
and  Educational  Society;  Nantucket  Improvement 
Society;  Helping-Hand  Society,  incorporated  in  1900; 
Boys'  Gymnasium,  1908;  Women's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union,  1876;  Nantucket  Historical  Association, 
1894;  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Nantucket  Association, 
1894;  the  Nantucket  County  Teachers'  Association, 
1896;  the  Civic  League;  Nantucket  Hospital  Corpora- 
tion, etc. 

In  1 771  a  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  was 
constituted  in  Nantucket,  in  which  year  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Massachusetts  was  petitioned  for  a  charter, 
this  being  granted  on  May  27,  1771.  The  petition 
was  signed  by  William  Brock,  Joseph  Deniston,  Henry 
Smith,  William  Worth,  Christopher  Hussey,  and 
Timothy  Folger.  William  Brock  was  the  first  Worship- 
ful Master,  and  the  Lodge  has  been  in  continuous 
operation  since  it  was  first  instituted,  being  the  seventh 
in  seniority  in  the  State. 

Another  Lodge  was  founded  in  18 16,  known  as 
"Urbanity  Lodge,"  but,  during  the  political  anti- 
masonic  campaign,  it  surrendered  its  warrant  and 
rejoined  the  original  "Unity  Lodge." 

Unity  Lodge  commemorated  its  centennial  anniver- 
sary in   1871,  when  the  Grand  Officers  of  the  State 


36o  Nantucket 

attended  as  guests,  in  addition  to  many  visiting  breth- 
ren. The  celebration  was  most  successful  in  every  way, 
and  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  those  who  were 
present. 

The  "Nantucket  Lodge"  of  Oddfellows  was  foimded 
in  1845  as  No.  66.  Unfortunately,  during  the  following 
year,  the  great  fire  destroyed  all  its  possessions,  a 
disaster  which  crippled  its  progress  materially  for  a 
time.  It  gradually  recovered,  however,  and  is  now 
flourishing  and  most  successful  in  every  way,  having 
two  hundred  members,  and  a  financial  condition  which 
is  very  satisfactory. 

The  "Island  Lodge,"  No.  24,  Daughters  of  Rebekah, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  formed  in  1874.  It  has  nearly  two 
hundred  members  and  admirably  sustains  its  mission. 

The  "Wauwinet  Tribe"  of  Redmen,  No.  158,  estab- 
lished on  Nantucket  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty,  is  well-organized  and  financially  sound,  and 
is  doing  its  work  well,  and  prospering. 

Of  the  many  social  clubs  which  have  been  established 
in  Nantucket  the  following  may  be  mentioned  as  among 
the  most  important,  viz.:  the  Sorosis  Club,  1872;  the 
Mendon,  the  Golden-rod,  the  Isis,  the  Unity,  the 
Shakespeare,  the  Nantucket,  the  Pacific,  and  many 
others,  some  of  which  are  no  longer  existent. 

Nantucket's  Distinguished  Inventor.  Although 
clothed  with  all  the  modesty  which  characterizes  true 
genius,  Patrick  B.  Delany,  the  illustrious  electrical 
engineer  and  inventor,  who  has  chosen  Nantucket  for 
his  dwelling-place,  and  has  erected  his  wireless  telegraph 
apparatus,  and  established  his  laboratory  on  the  Cliff, 
has  patented  over  two  hundred  inventions  mainly  in 
electricity  and  multiplex  telegraphs,  six  messages  simul- 


In  the  Dredge-Net  361 

taneously  over  one  wire,  automatic  rapid  telegraphy, 
a  thousand  words  per  minute,  cable  secret  telegraph 
systems,  and  many  experiments  in  wireless  telegraphy. 
He  has  been  honored  with  ten  gold  medals  from  the 
most  famous  American  and  European  societies  and 
institutions,  and  his  private  laboratory  is  in  constant 
touch  with  the  outside  world.  He  has  recently  turned 
his  attention  to  "talking  machines,"  and  in  his  "Vox 
Humana"  instrument  he  has  achieved  the  most  won- 
derful and  most  nearly  correct  reproduction  of  the 
human  voice  ever  invented. 

Agriculture.  The  long  and  persistent  indiffer- 
ence of  the  majority  of  the  islanders  to  developing 
the  agricultural  resources  and  possibilities  of  the 
island  may,  perhaps,  be  explained,  but  cannot  be 
excused.  The  writer  believes  that  there  are  com- 
paratively few  acres  of  the  moorland  which  could 
not  be  rendered  productive  by  renewal  of  the  soil 
and  appropriate  fertilization.  Even  now  when  the 
land  is  exhausted  by  the  lapse  of  time  and  utter 
neglect,  there  is  very  little  of  it  which  could  not  be 
made  to  produce  fruit,  flowers,  and  vegetables  to 
almost  any  extent;  and  after  a  time  of  careful 
preparation,  there  is  no  reason  why  crops  of  com, 
wheat,  barley,  and  oats  could  not  be  as  success- 
fully cultivated  as  they  were  in  the  days  of  the  early 
settlers.  Even  as  late  as  1870,  there  were  one  hun- 
dred and  five  farms  on  the  island,  with  an  average 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  acres  in  each  farm,  twelve 
acres  of  grass  in  each  farm,  each  producing  eighteen 
tons  of  hay,  com  thirty-seven  bushels  to  the  acre,  thirty 
bushels  of  oats,  forty  bushels  of  barley,  and  one  hundred 
and  tr.n  bushels  of  potatoes.     This  accurate  abstract 


362  Nantucket 

from  the  census  tells  its  own  tale,  and  no  more  need 
be  said. 

The  Nantucket  Agricultural  Society  has  striven  well 
during  the  fifty-six  years  of  its  history,  and  with  con- 
siderable success;  and  its  yearly  fairs  are  very  en- 
couraging. During  the  past  ten  years  there  seems 
to  have  been  a  slight  gain  in  agricultural  interests, 
but  there  is  too  little  general  enthusiasm  and  the 
laborers  are  few.  When  will  Nantucket  awake  to 
appreciate  and  to  utilize  the  many  opportunities 
lying  profusely  around  them,  instead  of  waiting  for  a 
lower  class  of  work  to  be  brought  from  afar,  and  per- 
mitting a  host  of  foreigners  to  teach  them  what  can 
be  done? 

Board  of  Health.  Nearly  as  far  back  as  1791,  when 
the  first  Nantucket  vessel  rounded  Cape  Horn,  there 
was  a  Health  Committee  to  safeguard  the  well-being 
of  the  islanders  and  especially  of  the  whalers  and  their 
families;  still  later,  probably  up  to  1882,  there  was  a 
Committee  of  Health  appointed  from  the  Selectmen, 
the  overseer  of  the  poor  acting  as  their  advisory  agent ; 
and,  still  more  recently,  there  has  been  constituted  a 
thoroughly  organized  Board  of  Health  whose  duty  it  is 
to  inquire  into  and  to  conserve  the  public  health,  and 
to  ensure  sanitary  and  hygienic  conditions  on  the  island. 
In  such  competent  hands  the  health  of  the  island  is 
assured. 

Interesting  Figures.  The  following  table  will  doubt- 
less prove  interesting  reading,  as  it  contains  the  amount 
of  appropriations  made  by  the  annual  town-meetings 
since  1893,  and  also  the  amount  raised  by  taxation  and 
the  rate  of  taxation  each  year: 


In  the  Dredge-Net 

363 

Amounts 

Raised  by 

Rate  per 

Year 

Appropriated 

Taxation 

Thousand 

1893 

$34,900.00 

$31,816.93 

$10.00 

1894 

31,000.00 

32,015-33 

10.00 

1895 

41,000.00 

37.758.62 

11.80 

1896 

41,000.00 

45,188.65 

14.60 

1897 

29,750.00 

35,446.42 

10.00 

1898 

37,285.00 

44,099.74 

12.60 

1899 

45,800.00 

43,846.88 

12.60 

1900 

46,850.00 

44,074.76 

13.00 

1901 

40,619.46 

44,090.04 

12.50 

1902 

60,335.00 

42,073.04 

12.50 

1903 

60,852.67 

63,306.41 

18.00 

1904 

59,726.50 

61,505.58 

18.00 

1905 

43,385-53 

44,356.13 

13.00 

1906 

62,091.66 

48,350.00 

15.00 

1907 

69,563.66 

56,200.00 

16.50 

1908 

60  791.66 

65,363-07 

19.00 

1909 

68,445.38 

68,172.48 

19-50 

1910 

71,681.08 

61,323.62 

17-50 

1911 

87,873-37 

73,257-42 

17-50 

1912 

83,301.66 

65,482.21 

15.00 

1913 

93,091.66 

70,000.00 

? 

Nantucket's  Expenses.  From  the  table  appended 
below  it  will  readily  be  seen  how  the  expenses  of  the 
town  of  Nantucket  have  increased  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  through  appropriations  made  at  the 
annual  town-meetings.  In  1893  the  total  appropria- 
tions was  but  $34,900,  and  in  19 13  it  had  risen  to 
$93,091.66 — almost  three  times  as  much. 

1893— $34,900.00 
1894 — $31,000.00 
1895 — $41,000.00 
1896 — $41,000.00 


364  Nantucket 

1897— $29,750.00 
1898—137,285.00 
1899 — $45,800.00 
1900 — $46,850.00 
1901 — $40,619.46 
1902— $60,335.00 
1903— $60,852.67 
1904— $59,726.50 
1905— $43,385.53 
1906 — $62,091.66 
1907— $69,563.66 
1908 — $60,791.66 
1909— $68,455.38 
1 910— $71,681.08 
191 1— $87,873.37 
1912 — $83,301.66 
1913— $93,091.66^ 

The  Gulf  Stream.  It  is  not  generally  known  that  a 
ship  captain,^  from  the  whaling  port  of  Nantucket,  was 
the  first  man  to  draw  a  chart  locating  and  giving  the 
course  of  the  Gulf  Stream. 

This  incident  is  described  in  the  Works  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  353  and  364. 

'From  the  Nantucket  Inquirer  and  Mirror,  February  15,  1913. 
» Captain  Timothy  Folger. 


CHAPTER  XX 

CHRONOLOGICAL  DATA 
I602-I912 

1602.     Discovery  of  Nantucket  Island  by  Bartholomew 

Gosnold. 
1630.     A  war  waged  between  the  eastern  and  western 

tribes  about  this  year. 
1641.     The   island   deeded   to   Thomas   Mayhew  and 

son  by  Lord  Stirling. 
1659.     The  island  deeded  by  Mayhew,  for  £30  and  two 

beaver  hats,  to ' '  The  Ten  original  Purchasers , ' ' 

viz.: 

Tristram  Coffin  Thomas  Macy 

Richard  Swain  Thomas  Barnard 

Peter  Coffin  Christopher  Hussey 

Stephen  Greenleaf  John  Swain 

William  Pike  Thomas  Mayhew  re- 
taining one-tenth  of  the  island,  consisting  of  that  part 
known  as  Quaise. 

Each  of  the  above  chose  an  "Associate,"  with  whom 
to  settle  the  island,  viz. : 

Tristram  Coffin,  Jr.  Edward  Starbuck 

John  Smith  Nathaniel  Starbuck 

Robert  Pike  Thomas  Look 

Robert  Barnard  James  Coffin 

Thomas  Coleman  Thomas  Mayhew,  Jr. 

365 


366  Nantucket 

The  island  was  purchased  subsequently  from  the 
natives  who  owned  it  in  small  tracts,  the  boundaries 
thereof  being  defined  with  surprising  exactness. 

Thomas  Macy  and  family,  with  Edward  Starbuck 
and  others,  arrived  from  Salisbury,  Mass. 

Number  of  Indians  on  the  island,  probably  about 
700. 

1660.  Starbuck  returned  to  Salisbury,  and  brought 
back  to  the  island  eight  or  ten  families. 
West  end  of  island  bought  from  the  Indians. 
1663.  Peter  Folger  moved  to  the  island.  The 
occupations  of  the  settlers  were  fishing  and 
farming.  The  island,  with  the  exception  of 
Quaise,  was  divided  into  twenty-seven  parts. 

1665.  King  Philip  visited  the  island. 

1666.  The  first  grist-mill  built  on  Wesko  (Lily)  Pond. 

1667.  August  15th,  Abiah  Folger  born,  daughter  of 

Peter  and  Mary  Folger.  She  married  Josiah 
Franklin  of  Boston,  and  was  the  mother  of 
Dr.   Benjamin  Franklin.     She  died  in  1752. 

1 67 1.     Town  incorporated. 

1673.     Whaling  commenced  in  boats  from  the  shore. 

The  town  was  named  Sherburne,  by  order  of 
Lovelace,  Governor  of  New  York. 

1676.  About  this  time  Sesacacha  (containing  about 
thirty  houses)  and  Siasconset  villages  were 
built.  Also  the  cluster  of  whale-houses  at 
Miacomet,  together  with  the  fishing-stages 
of  Peedee  and  Quidnet,  and  the  fishing-stage 
at  Weeweder.  Sesacacha  village  continued 
in  existence  about  140  years,  the  last  houses 
of  the  place  having  been  moved  to  Siasconset 
in  1820. 

1 68 1.     Tristram  Coffin  died. 


Chronological  Data,  1 602-1 91 2       367 

1693.  The  island  (previously  a  part  of  New  York 
Province),  became  a  part  of  Massachusetts, 
in  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  island. 

EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY 

1704.  Up  to  this  date,  i.e.,  for  nearly  half  a  century, 
the  whites,  though  numbering  now  about 
700  souls,  had  had  no  settled  religious  teacher, 
and  were  without  a  church,  probably  the 
solitary  exception,  in  this  respect,  in  all  New 
England.  They  were,  and  had  been  during 
the  half  century,  mostly  Baptists,  a  few  were 
Presbyterians,  and  one  or  two  Quakers. 
The  Mayhews  had  christianized  the  Indians, 
and  the  latter  (with  the  New  Testament 
translated  into  their  language)  had  four 
meeting-houses  (Presbyterian  in  form)  con- 
ducted in  their  own  language.  During  this 
year  a  Friends'  Society  was  formed. 
The  first  Indian  execution  took  place  also. 

171 1.  The  North  Congregational  Society  formed,  and 

the  first  meeting-house  erected  at  the  west- 
ward of  the  North  burial-ground.  It  is  said 
to  have  been  built  of  oak  that  grew  on  the 
island.  Names,  if  any,  of  the  first  pastors 
unknown. 
The  first  Friends'  meeting-house  built  on  hill 
north  of  town. 

17 1 2.  About  this  time  small  vessels  began  making 

short  voyages. 
First  sperm  whale  taken  by  Christopher  Hussey. 
1715.     Six  sloops  engaged  in  whaling. 


368  Nantucket 

1715-20.     Site  of  the  town  moved  to  Wesko,  its  present 
location. 

1 7 19.  White  population  721. 

1720.  Paul  Starbuck  made  first  shipment  of  oil  to 

England  {via  Boston)  in  ship  Hanover,  William 
Chadder,  master. 

1723.     Straight  wharf  built,  probably  before. 

1726.     White  population  917. 

1730,     Twenty-five    whaling   vessels   owned   at   Nan- 
tucket. 
Quanaty   Hill   dug  away   to  make  land  from 

Union  Street  to  the  present  shore. 
Friends'  meeting-house  built  on  Main  Street 
(comer  of  Friends'  burying-ground).  Meet- 
ings were  held  here  for  sixty  years.  Build- 
ing removed  in  1792  to  lot,  comer  of  Main 
and  Pleasant  streets,  and  a  new  meeting- 
house built  on  Broad  Street.  Meetings  were 
divided  between  the  two  houses. 

1732.     Timothy  White  became  pastor  of  First  Congre- 
gational Church. 

1745.  First  cargo  of  oil  shipped  directly  to  England. 

1746.  First  lighthouse  built  on  Brant  Point,  being  the 

second  erected  in  America.     Supported  for 
forty-five  years  by  merchants  of  Nantucket. 
The  Swain  windmill  built,  and  is  still  standing. 
1763-4.     White  population     3220 
Indian  population      358 


Total  3578 

Indian  plague  swept  off  222  natives,  leaving 
only  136  on  the  island. 
1765.     North  meeting-house  removed  to  Beacon  Hill 
(the  present  site).     Out  of  3220  whites  only 


Chronological  Data,  1 602-1 91 2       369 

forty-seven   were   pew-holders.     Whaling  in 
boats  from  shore  ceased. 
Ship  Neptune  built  for  William  Rotch :   Nathan 
Coffin,  master;  she  was  the  first  ship  owned 
at  Nantucket. 

1772.  Brick  building  erected  at  foot  of  Main  Street 

by  William  Rotch  and  used  by  him  as  an 
office.     Now    owned    by    Pacific    Club    and 
occupied  by  them,  and  by  the  custom-house. 
First  sperm  candle  factory  started. 

1773.  Ships  Dartmouth,  Eleanor,  and  Beaver  cleared 

from  Nantucket  with  cargoes  of  oil  for  Eng- 
land. After  discharging  in  London  the  three 
ships  were  chartered  to  bring  cargoes  of  tea 
to  Boston.  This  was  the  famous  tea  which 
was  thrown  overboard  by  the  Americans  on 
its  arrival  in  Boston  Harbor.  The  Beaver 
was  owned  in  Nantucket,  and  her  captain 
was  Hezekiah  Coffin,  of  Nantucket. 

1774.  Population  4545.     One  clergyman,  two  doctors, 

and  one  lawyer  on  the  island.  From  organi- 
zation of  North  Congregational  Society  in 
171 1  to  1 78 1,  there  was  but  one  settled 
clergyman  on  the  island,  and  no  public 
schools. 
1775-81.  About  1600  Nantucketers  lost  their  lives,  in 
one  way  or  another  during  and  on  account  of 
the  Revolutionary  War. 

1776.  About  this  time  150  vessels  (aggregate  15,000 

tons),  owned  at  Nantucket. 

1777.  Twenty  men  and  boys  sailed  as  part  of  crew  of 

the  Ranger,  John  Paul  Jones,  master. 

1778.  Ratable  property  on  island  $866,630.     Whaling 

seriously  retarded  by  the  war,  from  1776  to 

24 


370  Nantucket 

1782.  Fifteen  vessels  were  lost  at  sea,  and 
134  captured  by  the  British. 
1779.  A  hundred  armed  men  from  an  English  privateer, 
during  April,  landed  and  robbed  stores  of 
goods  valued  at  $10,665.  Soon  after  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  by  the  town  to  confer 
with  British  commanders  at  New  York  and 
Newport,  the  result  being  an  arrangement 
for  protection  on  condition  of  neutrality. 

1783.  Ship  Bedford,  Captain  William  Mooers,  hoisted 

first  American  flag  in  an  English  port  (Lon- 
don, February  3d).  Returned  to  Nantucket 
May  3,  1783. 

Many  Nantucketers  settled  along  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  at  Hudson  and  other  points. 

Ship  Washington,  Captain  George  Bunker,  was 
first  to  hoist  American  flag  in  Spanish  Pacific 
port. 

1784.  Population  4269.     Lighthouse  erected  at  Great 

Point. 
1788.     Ship    Penelope,    Captain    Tristram    Gardner, 

reached  latitude  70°,  Arctic  Ocean. 
1 791.     Ship  Beaver,  Captain  Paul  Worth,  sailed,  and 

was  the  first  Nantucket  whaler  to  double 

Cape  Horn. 
1793.     Sixteen  ships,  five  brigs,  and  schooners  sailed 

from  Nantucket. 
Name   of   town   changed   from   Sherburne   to 

Nantucket. 
Nantucket  Bank  started. 
Old  North  tower  erected. 
Three    Indian    wigwams — the    last — were    the 

only   ones   left    standing    on   the   island   at 

Squam. 


Chronological  Data,  1 602-1 91 2       371 

NINETEENTH  CENTURY 

1800.     The  Academy  incorporated,  and  the  building 
erected   on   Academ}^   Hill.     It   was    not   a 
public  school. 
Bell    (weighing    1000    lbs.)    placed    in    North 

tower. 
The  Methodist  Society  organized. 
Population  5617. 
1804.     Pacific  Bank  and  two  insurance  offices  estab- 
lished. 
1807.     Ship  Union,  Captain  Edward  Gardner,  lost  by 
striking  on  a  whale.     Crew  made  voyage  of 
six  hundred  miles  in  boats. 

1809.  The  Unitarian  Society  formed,  the  Rev.  Seth 

F.  Swift,  pastor. 

1 8 10.  Population  6807. 

Ship  Rose  built  at  Brant  Point.  The  Charles 
Carroll,  1832;  the  Lexington  and  the  Nan- 
tucket, 1836,  and  the  Joseph  Starbuck,  1838, 
and  a  large  schooner  were  the  only  whalers 
known  to  have  been  built  at  Nantucket. 

181 1.  Seventeen    ships    and    seven    schooners    sailed 

from  Nantucket.  Eleven  of  these  were 
captured  by  the  British  in  18 12  and  181 3. 
1 8 14.  Fight  off  Tom  Never's  Head,  Nantucket,  on 
October  loth,  between  boats  from  British 
frigate  Endymion  and  American  privateer 
Prhice  of  Neujchatel.  British  sailors  re- 
pulsed with  loss  of  121  men  in  killed  and 
prisoners.  English  merchant  ship  Douglas 
captured  and  beached  after  the  fight.  There 
was  a  Nantucket  pilot  (Kilbum)  aboard  of 
the  Prince  oj  Neujchatel. 


372  Nantucket 

1815.  Social  Library  started;  Josiah    Hussey,  Presi- 

dent, 
Twenty-six  ships  and  twenty-four  other  vessels 

sailed. 
Bell  brought  from  Lisbon,  Portugal,  and  placed 

in  tower  of  Unitarian  Church. 

1816.  Nantucket  Gazette  issued;  lived  on^y  one  year; 

succeeded  in  18 17  by  the  Weekly  Magazine. 

A  society  for  the  ' '  Suppression  of  Intemperance  " 
formed. 

Steamer  Eagle  (owned  by  Jacob  Barker),  placed 
on  route  between  Nantucket  and  New  Bed- 
ford. 

1818.  Captain   George   W.   Gardner,   in   ship   Globe, 

discovered  "off-shore  grounds,"  coast  of 
Chile;  brought  home  2090  barrels  of  sperm. 

18 1 9.  Ship  Equator,  Captain  Elisha  Folger,  sailed  and 

was  first  ship  from  Nantucket  to  visit  Hawai- 
ian Islands,  September  7,  18 19. 
Captain  Joseph  Allen,  in  ship  Maro,  discovered 
"Japan  grounds." 

1820.  Seventy-two    whale    ships    (aggregate    20,445 

tons)  besides  smaller  vessels,  owned  at 
Nantucket. 

Wreck  at  sea  of  ship  Essex,  Captain  George 
Pollard;  sunk  by  an  angry  whale.  Crew  out 
in  boats  three  months,  suffering  fearful 
privations.  Sailed  two  thousand  miles  be- 
fore rescued.  Captain  Pollard,  the  first  mate, 
and  three  men  out  of  crew  of  twenty 
survived. 

Population  7266. 

Nantucket  Inquirer  started;  Samuel  H.  Jenks, 
editor. 


Chronological  Data,  1602-1912       373 

1822.  Ship    Globe,   Captain    Thomas    Worth,   sailed. 

During  1823  the  crew  mutinied,  kilhng  Cap- 
tain Worth  and  three  officers.  Ship  returned 
to  Nantucket,  November  14,  1824. 
Arthur  Cooper,  a  fugitive  slave  from  Virginia, 
with  his  family,  were  rescued  from  pursuers 
and  protected  by  Quaker  citizens  (first  case 
on  record).     Cooper  lived  and  died  here. 

1823.  Columbian  Library  Association  formed. 

1827.  Two  public  schools  established,  and  the  "Coffin 
School "  (founded  by  Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin, 
Bart.)  opened. 

1829.  Steamer  Marco  Bozzaris  placed  on  route,  E.  H. 

Barker,  Captain.  Followed  consecutively  by 
the  Telegraph  (1832),  and  the  Massachusetts, 
1842. 
Ship  Lopez,  Captain  Obed.  Starbuck,  sailed. 
After  fourteen  months  and  fourteen  days 
brought  home  2280  barrels  of  sperm  oil, 
valued  at  $50,000. 

1830.  Ship  Sarah,  Captain  Frederick  Arthur,  arrived. 

Out  two  years  eleven  months,  and  brought 
home  3497  barrels  of  sperm  oil,  valued  at 
$98,000 — the  largest  amount  of  sperm  oil 
ever  brought  in. 

Division  in  Society  of  Friends,  the  "Hicksites" 
seceding. 
1833.     Meeting-house  built  on  Main  Street  for  Hicksite 
Friends.     Used  for  several  years,  then  sold. 

Original  body  of  Friends  built  meeting-house  on 
Fair  Street,  comer  of  Ray's  Court,  also  a 
Friends'  school  (John  Boadle,  master). 

Sloop  Fame,  Captain  Peter  Myrick,  sailed  in 
search  of  sea-serpents.     Returned  empty ! 


374  Nantucket 

1834.     New  North  meeting-house  erected.     Athenseum 

incorporated. 
1836.     First    great     fire,     Washington     Hotel,     Main 

Street. 

1838.  High  School  opened.     Great  fire,  loss,  $300,000. 

1839.  Trinity  Church   (Episcopal)   erected  in  Broad 

Street,  parish  having  been  organized  a  short 
time  previously  by  Rev.  Moses  Marcus,  B.D. 

1840.  Population  9712. 

1 841.  Anti-slavery  convention  in  Athenaeum  Hall. 

1842.  Whaling  culminated;  eighty-six  ships  and  four 

smaller  vessels  owned  at  Nantucket. 
The  Camels  (floating  dock)  launched. 
September  23d,  ship  Constitution,  Captain  Obed. 

R.  Bunker,  taken  out  by  Camels. 
October  13th,  ship  Peru,  Captain  Joshua  Coffin, 

brought    in    over    Bar    by    Camels.     Great 

enthusiasm  in  Nantucket. 

1845.  Nantucket  Weekly  Mirror  issued,  John  Moris- 

sey,  editor. 

1846.  Wreck  of  ship  Earl  of  Eglinton,  Captain  Niven, 

off  Tom  Never' s  Head. 
From  this  date  whaling  declines. 
July  13th  and  14th.     Great  fire  which  almost 

devastated  the  town. 

1847.  Pine-groves  planted  by  Josiah  Sturgis. 

1849.  Nine  vessels  sailed  from  Nantucket  for  San 

Francisco    this    year,    bearing    away    many 
Nantucketers. 

1850.  Population  8779. 

Center  Street  Friends'  meeting-house  built. 
Sankaty     Lighthouse     erected;     first     lighted 
February  2d. 
1852-3.  More  pine-groves  planted. 


Chronological  Data,  1 602-191 2       375 

1854.  Gaslight  first  used  on  the  island. 

Abram  Quary,  Indian  half-breed,  died,  aged 
eighty-two  years  and  ten  months,  on  Novem- 
ber 25th. 

1855.  Steamer  Island  Home  placed  on  route.     Con- 

tinued running  until  1895. 

Dorcas    Honorable,    the    last    pure-blooded 

Indian,  died  January  12,  1855. 

1856.  Government  lighthouse  built  at  Brant  Point. 
i860.     Six  vessels  sailed  from  Nantucket. 

Population  6064. 
1 861-5.  Nantucket  sent  213  men  into  the  Union  Army, 
and  126  into  Navy,  56  more  than  her  quota. 
1 86 1 -8.  Fourteen  vessels  sailed  from  Nantucket. 
1865.     Population  4748 ;  809  voters. 

High    School    Alumni    Association    organized. 

Reunions  held  1865,  1866,  1869. 
Nantucket  Inquirer  purchased  by  Hussey  and 
Robinson  and  merged  in  Mirror  under  name 
of  Inquirer  and  Mirror. 
December  25th,  ship  Newton  wrecked  off  Surf- 
Side.     All  hands  perished. 

1868.  Barque  R.  L.  Bar  stow  sailed.     She  was  the  last 

whaler  owned  at  Nantucket. 

1869.  Historical    map    of    Nantucket    surveyed    and 

drawn  by  the  Rev.  Ferdinand  C.  Ewer,  D.D. 
Three  vessels  sailed  from  Nantucket.     Barque 
Oak,  Captain  W.  B.  Thompson,  sailed  Novem- 
ber 1 6th,  and  was  sold  in  Panama  in  1872. 

1870.  May  30th,  arrived  barque  Amy,  Captain  Joseph 

Winslow,  with  1350  barrels  sperm  oil,  and  June 
14th,  brig  Eunice  H.  Adams,  Captain  Zenas  M. 
Coleman,  last  whaler  to  arrive  at  Nantucket. 
Population  4123. 


376  Nantucket 

1872.  Nantucket  begins  to  be  popular  as  a  summer 

resort,  as  first  suggested  and  advocated  by 
Mark  Salom,  of  Boston,  in  1865. 

1873.  Nantucket  Relief  Association  organized. 

1874.  Two  steamboats  a  day  during  summer,  instead 

of  one. 

1875.  Population  3201;  890  legal  voters. 

1876.  Steamer   runs  between   Nantucket   and  Wau- 

winet. 
1878.     Nantucket  Journal  started;  Arthur  H.  Gardner, 
editor. 

1880.  Population  3727. 

Introduction  of  water  supply  by  Wannacomet 
Water  Co;  Moses  Joy,  Jr.,  projector  and 
first  President. 

1 88 1.  Reunion  of  Coffin  family. 

Nantucket  Railroad  constructed  to  Surf-Side. 

1882.  February    5th,    steamer   Island   Home   nearly 

wrecked  off  Tuckernuck. 

1884.     Nantucket  Railroad  extended  to  'Sconset. 

1886.  Cable  communication  with  Nantucket,  by  the 
United  States  Signal  Service,  satisfactorily 
installed. 
Consolidation  effected  between  the  Nantucket 
&  Cape  Cod  Steamboat  Co.,  and  the  New 
Bedford,  Vineyard  &  Nantucket  Steamboat 
Co.,  with  corporate  name  "New  Bedford, 
Martha's  Vineyard  &  Nantucket  Steam- 
boat Co."  Steamer  Nantucket  built  by  the 
above  company,  and  placed  upon  the  route 
in  July. 

(889.     Electric  lighting  introduced. 

1890.  Population  3268. 

1 89 1.  Steamer  Gayhead  placed  upon  the  route. 


Chronological  Data,  1 602-1 91 2       377 

1894.  State  road  (macadamized)  to  Siasconset  com- 

menced, and  two  miles  completed. 
Nantucket  Historical  Association  organized  and 
incorporated.     J.     Sidney     Mitchell,     M.D., 
President.    Friends'  meeting-house  purchased 
for  headquarters. 

1895.  Nantucket  Central  Railroad  Company  rebuilt 

road  by  shorter  route  to  'Sconset. 
Centennial    celebration,     anniversary    of    the 
changing  of  name  from  Sherburne  to  Nan- 
tucket ;  also  bi-centennial  of  incorporation  of 
county  of  Nantucket. 

1897.  August,   old   Swain  windmill  sold  at  auction; 

purchased  for  Nantucket  Historical  Associa- 
tion through  the  generosity  of  Miss  C.  L.  W. 
French,  of  Boston. 

1898.  Dr.  J.  Sidney  Mitchell,  president  of  Nantucket 

Historical  Association,  died. 

1899.  W.  F.  Barnard  elected  president  of  Nantucket 

Historical  Association. 
William  Hosier,  last  male  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  died. 

1900.  Eunice  Paddock,  last  member  of  the  Society  of 

Friends,  died.  Memorial  fountain  erected 
by  Abiah  Folger  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.,  to 
the  memory  of  Abiah  Folger  Franklin, 
mother  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  near 
the  site  of  her  birthplace,  a  short  dis- 
tance westward  of  present  town,  on  Madeket 
road. 

Twenty-seven  miles  of  electric  wire  on  the 
island  up  to  August,  and  nearly  1000  incan- 
descent lights. 

Heavy  snowstorm  December  26th. 


378  Nantucket 

1 90 1.  Nantucket  Central  Railroad  service  instituted 

July  4th. 
Wireless    telegraphy    installed    at    Siasconset, 
August  3d. 

1902.  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  consecrated,  June 

nth. 
Last   zero   temperature   on   island,    l.i    below, 
Tuesday,  December  9th. 

1903.  Coffin  School  reopened  for  teaching  of  manual 

training,  October  5th. 
Athletic  Association  organized,  during  October. 

1904.  Civic  League  formed,  January  14th. 

New  Bathing  Pavilion  erected  on  the  beach. 

1905.  Nantucket  Athletic  Club  opened  to  members 

and  friends,  April  5th. 
The    museum    at    Nantucket    Athenaeum    was 
transferred    to    the     Historical    Association 
during  April. 

1906.  Alvin  Hull  died  suddenly.     He  was  a  veteran 

of  the  Civil  War,  and  a  whaler.     He  had  been 
a  town-crier  for  over  twenty  years. 
New  Bathing  Pavilion  opened  at  Sconset,  during 
August. 

1907.  Nantucket  adopted  modem  telegraph  fire-alarm 

system  during  May. 
Marconi  wireless  station  at  Sconset  destroyed 
by  fire,  November  15th 

1908.  Cliff  beacons  discontinued,  March  ist. 

Maria  Mitchell  Memorial  Observatory  dedicated 
July  15th. 

1909.  "Billy  Clark"  died,  Tuesday,  August  17th.     He 

was  bom  on  November  17,  1846,  at  Nan- 
tucket and  had  been  town-crier  for  many 
years;  he  was  much  esteemed  and  respected. 


Chronological  Data,  1602-1912        379 

Celebration  of  250th  anniversary  of  settlement 
of  island,  W.  F.  Macy  presided. 

1910.  The  rebuilding  of  the  State  road  was  finished 

to  Sconset  at  a  cost  of  $52,983.83. 

191 1.  Nantucket's  most  successful  season  and  Scon- 

set's   also.     Ten    thousand   visitors   on    the 
island. 

191 2.  The  new  auto-chemical  arrived.' 

'  Revised  and  extended  from  list  prepared  by  Mr.  H.  S.  Wyer.     (By 
permission.) 


INDEX 


Aborigines,  The,  35-57 
Academy  built  originally,  160 
AcKLEY,  Seth  Mitchell, Admiral, 
biographical  sketch  of,  242-244 
Agricultural    Society   established, 

173 

Akeamong,  or  Ahkeiman,  son  of 

Potconet,  39 
Algonquian  Confederacy,  i 
Alumni  meetings  of  High  School 

Associations,  176 
America,  North,  extension  of  ice- 
sheet  in,  4 
Amerind    Local     Place-names, 

26-32 
Amerind  proper  names  mentioned 

in  deeds,  etc.,  48-52 
Amerinds,  origin  still  unsettled,  i 
Athenaeum  made  a   free  library, 

190 
Athenaeum    Museum    transferred 

to   Historical    Association,    192 
Autopscot,  one  of  chief  sachems, 

37;  family,  38;  character  of,  43 
Autopscot's  territory,  38 

Baker,    Rev.    Louise    S.,    bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  230 
Bank,     Nantucket,      robbed      of 

$20,000,  98 
Banner  year  of  whaling  industry, 

170 
Bar,  efforts  to  remove,  154 
Barnard,  Thomas,  and  Robert, 

67 
Bathing  beach  leased,  199 
Beacon  at  Monomoy,  169 
Beacons,  Cliff,  erected,  169 
Bell,  Portuguese,  placed  in  Uni- 
tarian Church,  164 

381 


Botany  of  Nantucket,  245-268 
Brant     Point,      279;      lighthouse 

erected,  173 
"Bug-lights"  temporarily  discon- 
tinued, 184;  finally  abandoned, 
202 
Bureau,  Weather,  established,  189 
Burial-place  of  Indians  unknown, 
55 ;  suggestions  as  to,  56 


Cable,     submarine,     unsuccessful 
efforts  to  lay,  174;  to  mainland 
completed,  189 
"Cambridge  Spring,"  206 
Cash  House  demolished,  181 
Cemetery,  new,  incorporated,  188 
Central    R.  R.  Co.  service  insti- 
tuted, 196 
Character,    racial,    of    Nantucket 

Indians,  56 
Chesapeake  incident,  155 
Children's   Aid   Society   founded, 

176 
Christianity,    efforts  to  promote, 

among  Indians,  46 
Chroxological      Data      (1602- 

1912),  365-379 
Church,  first,  86-88 
Churches  on  Island,  163-167 
Civic  government  instituted,  90 
Civic  League  formed,  199 
Clan  Cofiin,  reunion  of,  184 
"Clark  Billy,"  Town  Crier,  165 
Clock,  town,  first,  placed  in  Uni- 
tarian Church,  164;  new  town, 
164 
Coal  supply,  lack    of,    owing    to 

strike,  198 
Coatue,  280 


382 


Index 


Coffin,  Captain  George  Wil- 
liam, U.  S.  N.,  biographical 
sketch  of,  236-237 

Coffin,  Admiral,  Sir  Isaac, 
Bart,  biographical  sketch  of, 
235-236 

Coffin,  Miriam  (Keziah),  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  227-228 

Coffin,  Mark,  career  of,  161 

Coffin  School  opened,  373;  re- 
opened, 198 

Coffin,  Tristram,  character  and 
residence,  59-60;  as  Chief 
Magistrate,  60 

Commercial    depression,    general, 

174 

Correction,  House  of,  155 

Coskata,  271 

"Cows'  Commons,"  80 

Criminal  Indians,  execution  of,  45 

Data,  Chronological  (1602- 
1912),  365-379 

Dead,  all  original  sachems  after 
1680,  46 

Deeds,  Indian  proper  names  men- 
tioned in,  48-52 

Description  of  "oldest  house," 
207-213 

Development,  Early  of  Island, 
78-102 

Discovery  of  Island,  23-26 

Dongan's  Patent  issued,  131 

Dorcas  Honorable,  the  last  full- 
blooded  Indian,  55 

Dredge-net,  In  the,  340-364 

Dwellings,  Early  in  Nan- 
tucket, 205-221 

Duration  of  Glacial  Period,  3 

Early  Development  of  Island, 

78-102 
Early  Dwellings  in  Nantucket 

205-221 
Early  public  buildings,  no  record 

of,  89 
Earop,    Isaac,    father   of    Dorcas 

Honorable,  55 
Education  on  Island,  88 
Eleazer  Folger,  first  schoolmaster, 

159 

Electric  and  Power  Co.  estab- 
lished, 199 

Electric-light  plant  first  operated, 
190 


Electricity,  Sconset  wireless  sta- 
tion lighted  by,  198 

Eminent  Nantucketers,  222- 
244 

Epidemic  fatal  among  Indians, 
63-54 

Ewer,  Revd.  Ferdinand  C, 
D.D.,    biographical    sketch    of, 

234-235 
Execution  of  Criminal  Indians,  45 
Exodus  of  islanders,  100 

Farming  operations,  83 
"Fight,  Maddequecham, "  156 
Fire,    extensive    on    Island,    170; 
great,  devastating  in  1846,  170- 

First  trees  planted  in  town,  158 

Fishermen,  Indians  good,  46 

Fishing-stages,  270 

Fleet  had  seventy- two  vessels  and 
eighty  coasters  in  1820,  158 

Flowers  and  plants  of  Island,  253- 
268 

Folger,  A  b  i  a  h,  biographical 
sketch  of,  225-226 

Folger,  Charles  James,  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  230-231 

Folger,  Peter,  63 

Folger,  Walter,  Jr.,  231-232 

Fountain,  Benjamin  Franklin,  277 

"French  Spoliations,"  101-102 

Gardner,     Anna,     biographical 

sketch  of,  229-230 
Gardner,   John,    biographical 

sketch  of,  64 
Geological,  epochs,  2-3;  structure, 

8;  succession  of  events,  9-12 
Geology  of  Nantucket,  1-12 
Gibbs,     John,     Indian     preacher, 

sought  by  King  Philip,  86 
Glacial  action,  2-6;  results  of,  6 
Glacial  period,  characteristics  of,  6 
Grant,  General,  visited  Nantucket, 

182 
Great    Point    (or    Nauma),    270; 

lighthouse  destroyed  by  fire,  167 
Greenleaf  Stephen,  66 
Grist-mill,  first,  84 

Hanaford,  Phebe  a.,  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  228-229 
Harbor,  outer,  13;  inner,  14 
"Haulover,  "14,  271 


Index 


383 


Hayes,  rejoicing  on  election  of,  as 
President,  182 

High-School  Alumni  Association, 
meetings  of,  176 

Hills  on  Island,  13 

Historical  Association  founded, 
192 

Honorable,  Dorcas,  the  last  Nan- 
tucket Indian,  55 

Hotel,  Point  Breeze,  opened,  191 

Hough's  papers,  131 

House-lots,  85 

House  of  Correction  built,  155 

"House, Oldest,"  in  Nantucket, 
207-216 

House,  "Old  Parliament,"  206; 
Swain's,  Pol  pis,  216;  George 
Gardner's,  216;  Benjamin  To- 
bey's,  218;  Caleb  Gardner's, 
219;  Major  Josiah  Coffin's,  220; 
Paddock's,  221;  Reuben  Joy's, 
221;  Zaccheus  Macy's,  221; 
Maria  Mitchell's,  221 

Houses,  Old,  on  Nantucket, 
205-221 

HussEY,  Christopher,  65 

Hygienic  ice,  manufacture  of, 
on  Island,  197 

Ice-sheet,  glacial,  extent  of,  4 
Indian,    Benjamin   Tashama    a 
noted,  54-55;  last  full-blooded, 
on  Island,  55;  villages,  269 
Indian,  Place-Names  Local,  26- 

33 

Indians,  amicable  with  settlers, 
44;  rum  the  curse  of  the,  45; 
land  litigation,  45;  efforts  of,  to 
regain  land,  45 ;  modes  of  punish- 
ment inflicted  on,  45;  Christian, 
45-46;  execution  of,  46;  original 
Sachems  all  dead  soon  after 
1680,  46;  good  fishermen,  46; 
number  of,  before  epidemic,  48 ; 
number  of,  after  epidemic,  48; 
disappearing  rapidly,  48;  proper 
names  of  mentioned  in  deeds, 
48-52;  a  few  special,  burial 
place  of,  unknown,  55;  sug- 
gestions as  to  burial  places  of, 
56;  racial  character  of  the,  56; 
fatal  epidemic  among,  63-64; 
symptoms  of  degeneracy  among, 
78 

In  the  Dredge-net,  340-364 


Insurance  offices  established,  155 

Island,  purchase  of,  58 

Island    Plants    and    Flowers, 

253-268;  Steamers,  320-328 
Island  Review,  first  issued,  182 
Islanders,  exodus  of,  100;  hopeful 

and  prospering,  158 

Jacob,  son  of  Potconet,  39 
Jail,  first,  86 

Journey,  first,  to  Island,  69 
Joy,    Moses,    established    water- 
works, 183 

King  Philip  visits  Nantucket,44, 90 
Korduda's  law,  53 

Legends  of  Nantucket,  17-23 

Life-savers,  duties,  304;  character 
of,  308 

Life-Saving  Stations,  304-308; 
Surf-Side,  306;  Great  Neck, 
306;  Muskeget  Island,  306; 
Coskata,  306 

Light,  electric-,  plant  operated, 
190 

Lighthouse,  erected  on  Brant 
Point,  94;  erected  at  Great 
Point,  98;  at  Great  Point  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  157;  present, 
erected  at  Brant  Point,  173 

Light-ship,  new,  placed  in  Sound, 
191 

Litigation  of  Indians  to  regain 
lands,  45 

Local      Indian     Place-Names, 

26-33 
Lovelace's  Patent  issued,  131 

Macy,  career  of  General  George, 

during  Civil  War,  175 
Macy,    Thomas,    "first   settler," 

61-62 
Macy,  William  Hussey,  237-241 
" Maddequecham  Fight,"  157 
Madeket,  277 
Main  Street  paved,  169;  repaved, 

169 
Maria    Mitchell,    biographical 

sketch  of,  222-225 
Masonic  Festival  held,  181 
Masquetuck,  281 
Massachusetts   Humane   Society, 

object  of,  305;    boathouses  of, 

306 


384 


Index 


Mayhew,  Thomas,  purchased 
Island,  68;  character  of,  68;  re- 
served land  for  own  use,  79 

Mayhew's  Deed  of  Sale,  70 

Mill,  old,  purchased,  195 

Mitchell,  Wh^liam  and  Henry, 
biographical  notice  of,  232-234 

Monomoy,  280 

Monument,  Soldiers',  erected,  182; 
to  Forefathers,  near  Maxcy's 
Pond,  182 

Moors,  character  of,  14-15 

MoTT,  LucRETiA,  biographical 
notice  of,  225 

IMuskeget  Island,  278 

Muskeget  Life-Saving  Station 
destroyed  by  fire,  190 

Nantucket,  Geology  of,  1-12; 
Glacial  period  in,  2-6;  duration 
of,  3;  a  terminal  moraine,  7; 
geological  structure  of,  8;  suc- 
cession of  geological  events  in, 
9-12;  shape  and  surface  of,  12; 
Physiography,  12-16;  Topog- 
raphy, 12-16;  outline  of  coast, 
13;  hills  on,  13;  southern  plains, 
13;  harbors,  13-14;  "Haulover," 
14;  moors,  character  of,  14-15; 
woods  on,  15;  roads,  15;  town, 
15-16;  Legends  of,  17-23; 
Discovery  of,  23;  Early 
Voyages  to,  23-26;  Amerind 
Place-Names  in,  26-32;  In- 
dian tribes  in,  36;  Natick  In- 
dians, 36;  Nipmuck  Indians, 
36;  number  of  Indians  in  36; 
sachems  of,  36;  chief  sachems, 
36;  his  family,  36-37;  Nicorno- 
ose,  son  and  successor  of  Wau- 
winet,  37;  his  territory,  37; 
signed  first  Indian  deed,  40; 
Nanahuma,  a  petty  sachem  of, 
41;  territory  of,  41;  character, 
43;  King  Philip  visits,  44;  In- 
dians of,  amicable  with  set- 
tlers, 44;  Island  purchased  by 
settlers,  58;  royal  grant  of,  to 
Plymouth  Co.,  68;  sold  to 
Thomas  Mayhew,  68;  sold  to 
settlers  by  Thomas  Mayhew, 
68;  under  jurisdiction  of  New 
York,  68;  divided  into  twenty- 
seven  shares,  70;  Mayhew's 
deed  of  sale  of,  71-72;  sachems' 


deed  of  sale  of,  71-72;  first 
Indian  deed,  74;  early  Indian 
deeds,  74-75;  Early  Develop- 
ment OF,  78-102;  area  of,  79; 
subdivision  of  shares,  80 ;  organ- 
ization of  shareholders,  80; 
first  sheep-shearing  on,  83; 
mills  on,  84;  house-lots  on, 
85;  primitive  education  on, 
88;  early  public  buildings,  no 
record  of,  89;  civic  government 
instituted  on,  90;  Selectmen 
first  appointed,  90;  town  in- 
corporated, 90;  shore-whaling 
commenced,  91;  name  of  town 
changed  to  Sherburne,  91; 
migration  from  Wannacomet 
to  Wesko,  91;  progress  on 
Island,  92;  whaHng  industry 
organized,  92;  many  new  in- 
dustries installed,  93;  Brant 
Point  lighthouse  first  built,  94; 
inoculation  instituted  on,  94; 
Revolutionary  War  and  its 
effect  on,  94-98;  lighthouse 
erected  on  Great  Point,  98; 
bank  robbed  of  $20,000,  99; 
resumes  modern  form  of  abo- 
riginal name,  99;  streets  first 
named,  102;  whale-fishery, 
vide  Whaling  Industry,  103; 
Quakerism,  it 5-129;  subject 
to  New  York  Province,  1660- 
1693,  130;  Records,  130-153; 
reverted  to  governance  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Province  1693,  131; 
XlXth  Century,  154-204; 
ships  returning,  hopes  brighten- 
irigj  155;  Gazette  first  issued, 
157;  "third  commercial  town 
in  Commonwealth"  (1830),  161 ; 
Athenaeum  incorporated,  167- 
168;  destroyed  by  fire,  168; 
ofificial  report  of  loss,  168;  re- 
built and  reopened,  168; 
financial  panic,  169;  Norwegian 
pines  first  planted,  171;  Select- 
men gave  orders  as  to  ringing 
of  bell,  171;  general  decline  of, 
set  in,  171;  reasons  for,  171; 
Main  Street  planted  with  elms 
and  Centre  with  maples,  172; 
population,  in  1850,  8779,  a 
falling  off  of  nearly  1000  since 
1840,   173;    Cape  Cod  Railway 


Index 


^85 


Nantucket — Continued 

extended  to  Hyannis,  173; 
more  practicable  service  ar- 
ranged between  Island  and 
Woods  Hole,  173;  first  installa- 
tion of  gas  works  and  light 
173;  Asylum  for  Poor,  and 
House  of  Correction  removed 
to,  173;  steamer  Island-Home 
arrived  at,  173;  Agricultural 
Society  established,  173;  com- 
mercial depression,  general,  for 
three  years,  during  Civil  War, 
174;  by  sending  56  men  above 
quota  became  "  Banner- town  " 
of  State,  175;  seventy-four 
men  from,  killed  during  war, 
175;  population  of,  decreased 
to  4830  after  war,  176;  reached 
nadir  of  her  misfortunes,  177; 
relative  proportions  of  old 
standard  family  names,  from 
Census  1870,  177;  Mark  Salom 
advocates  development  of,  as 
health  resort,  177;  rapidly  in- 
creasing number  of  visitors  to, 
177;  new  steamboat  service 
inaugurated,  178;  "two  boats 
a  day"  campaign  at  length 
successful,  178;  new  era  of 
prosperity  awakened,  179; 
progress  made  through  opposi- 
tion, 179;  new  hotels  and 
summer  cottages  built,  180; 
women  of,  as  usual,  do  most  of 
work,  180;  a  new  progressive 
spirit  manifested  on,  181; 
Soldiers'  jNIonument  erected, 
182;  Forefathers'  monument 
erected,  182;  Island  Revieiv 
first  issued,  1874,  182;  ceased 
publication,  1878,  182;  Journal 
first  issued,  1878,  182;  water- 
works established,  183;  Rail- 
way Co.  chartered  by  Legisla- 
ture, 184;  ground  broken  for 
railroad  extension,  184;  appro- 
priation of  $50,000  for  improve- 
ment of  harbor,  184;  "Bug- 
lights"  temporarily  discon- 
tinued, 184;  waterworks  suc- 
cessfully tested,  184;  Clan 
Coffin,  great  reunion  of,  184; 
Improvement  and  Industrial 
Association  instituted,  185;  five 


oxen  driven  over  ice  from 
steamer  to  shore,  185;  new 
town-clock  presented  to  town 
and  accepted,  185;  work  com- 
menced on  new  jetty,  185; 
new  gravestone  placed  on 
John  Gardner's  grave,  185; 
shoals  dates  of  surveys,  appro- 
priations, etc.,  186;  plot  of 
land  secured  for  Union  Chapel 
at  Siasconset,  186;  President 
Arthur  visited,  186;  most  severe 
snow-storm,  186;  sewerage 
system  advocated,  186;  Surf- 
Side  Hotel  opened,  187;  first 
wedding  solemnized  at  Tucker- 
nuck,  187;  Union  Chapel  opened 
at  Sconset,  187;  unusually 
heavy  surf  at  Surf-Side,  187; 
Atlantic  Hall  taken  down  to 
become  part  Hotel  Nantucket, 
187;  sixtieth  anniversary  of 
Methodist  Episcopal  Chapel, 
187;  harbor  sealed  with  ice, 
187;  new  cemetery  incorporated, 
188;  new  bell-buoy  placed  on 
bar,  188;  railway  extended  to 
Sconset,  188;  shock  of  earth- 
quake felt  over,  188;  General 
Grant's  funeral,  memorial  ser- 
vices, 188;  installation  of  elec- 
tric telegraph  completed,  188; 
Weather  Bureau  established, 
189;  cable  to  mainland  com- 
pleted, 189;  property,  personal 
and  real  of,  190;  electric  light 
plant  first  operated,  190;  I\Ius- 
keget  Life-Saving  Station  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  190;  Point 
Breeze  Hotel  opened,  191 ;  sewer- 
age system  adopted,  191 ;  railway 
extension  franchise  granted, 191 ; 
Association  of  Sons  and  Daugh- 
ters of,  instituted,  192;  de- 
vastating whirlwind  on,  192; 
Gibbs's  Swamp,  great  fire  on, 
192;  Historical  Association 
established,  192;  road,  new 
State,  work  on,  began,  193; 
widely  advertised,  193;  centen- 
nial celebration  observed,  193; 
Central  R.  R.  extension  fin- 
ished, 195;  Old  Mill  purchased, 
195;  collision  between  steamers 
Nantucket    and    Gayhead,    195; 


386 


Index 


Nantucket — Continued 

"Portland"  storm  occurred, 
195;  Union  Street  repaved, 
196;  appropriation  for  River 
and  Harbor  Bill  $70,000,  197; 
regulation  of  "fares  and 
freights"  carried  in  House,  198; 
coal  supply,  lack  of,  owing  to 
strike,  198;  act  passed  concern- 
ing Sconset  water  supply,  198; 
zero  temperature  at,  198;  in- 
scription found  in  tower  of 
Unitarian  Church,  198;  Coffin 
School  reopened,  198;  Athletic 
Club  incorporated,  198;  Electric 
and  Power  Co.,  199;  Civic 
League  formed,  199;  Bathing 
Beach  leased,  199;  New  York 
Yacht  Club  Station  at,  200; 
corner-stone  of  Historical  So- 
ciety's new  building  laid,  200; 
appropriation  of  $80,000  for 
harbor  and  channel,  200;  recep- 
tion at  Historical  Association's 
rooms,  200;  "Billy  Clark" 
had  a  "Song  Recital,"  200; 
"Nantucket  Hotel"  property 
sold,  201;  again  advertised,  201; 
Alvin  Hull,  one  of  town  criers, 
died,  201;  modern  telegraph 
fire-alarm  system  adopted,  201; 
crowded  with  visitors,  201; 
Marconi  wireless  station  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  201;  new 
automobile  R.  R.  mail  service 
installed,  201;  worst  storm  for 
twenty  years,  201;  new  light- 
ship placed  in  position,  201; 
appropriation  for  band,  town 
gymnasium,  etc.,  202;  new 
stand  pipe  at  waterworks  to 
be  built,  202;  estimated  cost 
of  jetties,  202;  "Bug-lights" 
discontinued,  202;  automobiles 
to  be  excluded  from,  202; 
Maria  Mitchell  Observatory 
dedicated,  202;  new  range- 
lights  placed  at  Brant  Point, 
202;  appropriations  for  town 
nearly  doubled  in  sixteen  years, 
202;  "Billy  Clark"  died  in 
1909,  203;  another  appropria- 
tion of  $50,000  for  jetties,  203; 
annual  appropriation  at  town- 
meeting,        $71,681.08,        203; 


Sewer  Commissioners'  report 
showed  cost  $7,524.00,  203; 
new  R.  R.  rolling-stock  very 
satisfactory,  203;  10,000  visi- 
tors on  island,  203;  annual 
valuation  of,  shows  increase 
of  $160,000  over  last  year,  203; 
new  steamboat  Sankaty  ar- 
rived. May  2,  191 1,  204;  191 1, 
a  banner  year  for  visitors,  204 

Nantucket  Early  Dwellings, 
205-221;  "oldest  house," 
207-216 

Nantucket  Flora,  review  of 
and  introduction  to,  245-253; 
list  of,  253-268 

Nantucket  Lif e-S a v  1  n g 
Service  and  Wrecks,  304-319 

Nantucket    Newspapers,    320- 

339 

Nantucket  Steamers,  320-328 
Nantucket,  town  of,  278-279 
Nantucketers,    Eminent,    222- 

244 
Nantucketers,  Quaint,  284; 
complex  personality,  284; 
Quakers  and  sailor-men,  285; 
log-books  and  ship  record,  286; 
Peleg  Folger,  286;  Pacific  Club, 
288;  Captains'  Room,  289; 
idiosyncrasies  a  century  ago, 
289;  Captain  Defriez,  289; 
early  municipal  authorities, 
291;  early  municipal  records, 
291-294;  inherent  humor,  294; 
anecdotes,  nautical,  Quakerish, 
and  personal,  294;  Newbegin 
sisters,  299;  Mrs.  McCleave, 
299;  the  town  criers,  300;  sum- 
mary, 303 

"  Old  Mill  "  purchased,  195 

"Oldest  house,"  207 

Old  houses  on   Nantucket,   205- 

221 
Operations,  farming,  83 
Outline  of  coast,  12 
Oxen  driven  over  ice,  185 

Pacific,  first  whaling  expedition 
to,  98 

Pacific  Bank  established,  155 

Panic,  a  second  prevailed  on  is- 
land, 173 

Parker,  Frederick,  hermit,  272 


Index 


387 


Patent,  Lovelace's,  incorporating 
Nantucket,  131;  Dongan's 
granted,  131 

Paul's,  St.,  new  church  conse- 
crated,  198 

Phenomenal  fall   of  temperature, 

157 
Philip,    King,    visits    Nantucket, 

44,  90 

Physiography  of  Nantucket, 
12-16 

Pike,  Robert,  66 

Place-Names,  Local  Amerind, 
26-32 

Pleistocene  period,  2-3 

Pocomo,  283 

Polpis,  282 

Poor  Farms,  161-163 

Population  of  island,  in  1820,  158; 
after  Revolutionary  War,  154 

"Portland"  storm  occurred,  195 

Potconet,  one  of  original  sachems, 
38-40;  territory  of,  38;  family 
of,  39;  living  when  settlers 
arrived,  39;  little  known  of, 
date  of  death  unknown,  39-40 

Pottacohannet,  same  as  Potconet, 
38-40 

Preeminent  Indian  sachems,  42 

Privations  and  losses  caused  by 
war  (1812-1815),  156 

Proper  names  of  Amerinds  men- 
tioned in  deeds,  48-52 

Proprietors  of  island,  70;  first 
meeting  of,  70 

Public  buildings,  early,  no  records 
of,  89 

Public  schools  founded,  159 

Punishments  inflicted  upon  re- 
fractory Indians,  45 

Quady,    Abraham   Api,   same    as 

Quary,  55 
"Quaint  Nantucketers, "  284- 

303 

Quaise,  281 

Quakerism:  in  Nantucket,  115- 
129;  founding  of,  115;  principle 
of  belief,  115;  progress  of,  116; 
persecution  of,  116;  aggregate 
number  of,  116;  first  to  visit 
Nantucket,  117;  visiting  from 
New  England  and  abroad, 
117-118;  preachers,  three  dis- 
tinguished, 118;  MaryStarbuck 


converted,  119;  her  character 
and  influence,  119;  fully  es- 
tablished in  Nantucket,  119; 
Mary  Starbuck's  death,  120; 
serious  loss  to,  120;  first 
meeting-house  built,  120;  new 
and  larger  meeting-house  built, 
120;  removal  to  Wesko,  120; 
still  larger  meeting-house  built, 
120;  fourth  meeting-house 
built,  120;  climax  of,  in  1794, 
121;  character  and  principles, 
121;  form  of  church  govern- 
ment, 121;  some  distinguished 
visitors  from  England,  121-122; 
half  of  population  on  island 
professed  Quakers,  before  end 
of  eighteenth  century,  121-122; 
intrinsic  causes  of  decline,  122; 
Hicks,  Elias,  reformer,  his 
views,  123;  gradually  decreas- 
ing congregations,  124;  Gurney, 
J.  J.,  another  reformer,  his 
views,  124;  Wilbur,  John,  a 
contender  for  orthodox,  125; 
bitter  contest  long  waged  be- 
tween Gurneyites  and  Wil- 
burites,  125;  Nantucket  always 
represented  orthodox,  125; 
action  in  Supreme  Court  as  to 
division  of  property,  125;  re- 
sult of  action  in  favor  of  Gur- 
neyites, 125;  Wilburites  strug- 
gled on  for  eighteen  years,  126; 
Gurneyites  struggled  twenty- 
two  years,  125;  last  meeting 
of  Quakers  held  in  1867,  125; 
meeting-house  was  sold  in  1894, 
126;  after  flourishing  for  a 
century,  only  two  Quakers 
resided  in  Nantucket  in  1899, 
and  both  died  in  1900,  126; 
has  no  living  representative 
in  Nantucket  to-day,  126;  Mr. 
H.  B.  Worth's  review  of,  126; 
writer's  Summary  of,  127 

Quary,  Abraham  Api,  last  Indian 
half-breed,  55 

Quibby  executed  for  murder  of 
H.  Gardner,  45 

Quidnet,  272 

Racial  character  of  Indians,  56 
Railway  extension  by  new  route 
sanctioned,  191 


388 


Index 


Reception  at  Historical  Associa- 
tion rooms,  200 

Records:  of  Nantucket,  130- 
153  (cover  a  period  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  con- 
tained in  one  hundred  and 
seventy  volumes,  at  Albany, 
copied  by  Wm.  Hough  and  pub- 
lished in  1856);  titles  from 
Hough's  book,  132-134;  town, 
135;  court,  139;  county  Regis- 
try of  Deeds,  142;  proprie- 
tors' 147;  Indian  deeds,  150; 
Probate  Court,  151 

Regulation  of  "  fares  and  freights," 
carried  in  House,  198 

Roads  on  island,  15 

"Roll-call  last"  of  Nantucket 
Indians,  52-53 

Sachems  of  Nantucket,  36 
Sankaty  Head,    273;    lighthouse, 

273 

Saul's  Hills,  274 

School,  High,  instituted,  160; 
New  High,  built,  160;  Tucker- 
nuck,  Madcket,  Sconset,  and 
Polpis,  160;  Coffin,  founded, 
160;  closed,  r6o;  reopened,  160 

Schools,  public,  159-160 

Sconset  (Siasconset),  274-276; 
milestones  set,  159;  marked 
progress  made,  188;  wireless 
telegraphy  installed  in,  196; 
wireless  station  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity, 198;  Water-supply  Act 
passed  concerning,  198;  Mar- 
coni station  established  at,  198; 
Marconi  station  destroyed  by 
fire,  201;  improvements  sug- 
gested for,  203;  Carnival  held 
at,    204 

Selectmen,  first,  appointed,  90 

Secacacha,  273;  Pond,  273 

Settlement  of  island  by  whites, 
58-68;  white,  68-77 

Settlers,  amicable  with  Indians, 
44;  character  of,  58-59;  first, 
60-67;  first  duties  of,  79 

Sewerage  system  adopted,  191 

Shape  and  surface  of  island,  12 

Shawkemo,  281 

Sheep-shearing  anniversary  ob- 
served, 189 

Sherburne  Bluffs,  280 


Sherburne  Lyceum  instituted,  182 
Sherburne    selected   as    name    of 

new  town,  91 
Shimmo,  281 
Ship-building    first   instituted   on 

island,  158 
Ships  built  in  Nantucket,  names 

of,  158 
Shore- whaling  commenced,  91 
Shouel,  James,  "Korduda, "  53 
Smith's  Point,  277 
Snowfall    unusually    heavy,    181, 

196 
Southern    plains    of     Nantucket, 

13 
Special  Indians,  a  few,  54 
Springs,  principal,  on  island,  281 
Squam,  272 

Starbuck,  Edward,  62 
Starbuck,  Joseph,  ship  built  and 

wrecked  at  Nantucket,  158 
Starbuck,     Mary,    biographical 

sketch  of,  227 
Steam    service    restored   between 

Nantucket    and    New    Bedford 

after  twenty-five  years,  183 
Steamers,  Island,  320-328 
Storm,  terrible,  170;  terrific  dam- 
ages amounting  to  $50,000,  182; 

protracted,  183 
Streets  of  Nantucket  first  named, 

102 
Submarine      cable,     unsuccessful 

efforts  to  lay,  189 
Summerhaves,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  W., 

biographical  sketch  of,  241-242 
Surf-Side,  277 
Swain's  Neck,  282 
Swain,  Richard,  and  John,  67 

Tashama,     Benjamin,     a     noted 

Indian,  54;  Sarah,  54 
Telegraph,  electric,  installation  of 

completed  on  island,  188 
Telegraphic      fire-alarm      system 

adopted  on  island,  201 
Telegraphy,  wireless,  installed  at 

Sconset,  196 
Temperature    phenomenal  fall  of 

on  island,  157 
Tom  Never's  Head,  276 
Topography  of  Nantucket,  12 
Town  of  Nantucket,  15-16 
Town  clock,  first,  installed,  164; 

new,  installed,  164 


Index 


389 


Town    criers:     Billy    Clark,    165; 

Alvin    Hull,    300;    Charles    H. 

Chase,  300;  W.  B.  Ray,  300 
Town  rebuilt  and  renovated  after 

great  fire,  171 
Town-house,  first,  86 
Trees  first  planted  in  town,   158 
Tuckemuck  Island,  278 
"Two  boats  a  day"  inaugurated, 

181 

Union  Chapel  opened  at  Sconset, 

187 
Union  Street  repaved,  196 
Unitarian      Church,      inscription 

found  in  tower  of,  198 

Villages  and  Districts,  269-283 
Villages,  Indian,  269 
Voyagers,    early,    to    Nantucket, 
23-26 

Wampanoags,  35 

Wanackmanack,  chief  sachem  of 
Island,  37;  his  territory,  37;  his 
family,  37;  his  character,  43 

War  declared  against  Great 
Britain  (1812),  156;  Civil,  posi- 
tion achieved  by  Nantucket 
during,  175 

Waterworks  established  at  Wan- 
nacomet,  183 

Wauwinet,  chief  sachem  of  island, 
37;  his  territory'',  37;  his  family, 
37;  his  character,  43;  village, 
271 

Weather  Bureau  established,  189 

Webster,    Daniel,   visited    island, 

159 

Wesko,  town  removed  from  Wan- 
nacomet  to,  205 

West  schoolhouse  rebuilt  after 
fire,  174 

Whale-fishing  Industry,  103- 
115:  first  vessel  engaged  in 
whaling  sailed  for  Pacific 
Ocean,  98;  whale-fishing,  its 
achievements  and  universality, 
104;  contrast  since  decay,  104; 
earliest  history  obscure,  105; 
unexecuted  deed  of  James 
Lopar  105;  original  purchasers 


of  island  went  on  first  expedi- 
tion, 106;  first  whale  kiUed^  a 
"scragg, "  107;  Ichabod  Pad- 
dock engaged  as  instructor, 
107;  organization  of  island  for 
whaling,  107-108;  first  sperm 
whale  found  dead  on  shore, 
108;  Christopher  Hussey  killed 
first  sperm  whale,  108;  vessels 
fitted  out  for  deep-sea  whaling, 
108;  six  sloops  engaged  in 
whaling  in  171 5,  109;  Straight 
Vv'harf  built  about  1823,  109;  in 
1730,  the  island  owned  twenty- 
five  whaling  vessels,  109;  shore- 
whaling  reached  its  climax  about 
1826,  109;  eighty-six  whales 
taken  in  1826, 109;  Davis  Strait 
visited  by  whalers  in  1732,  109; 
trade  eventually  became  world- 
wide 109;  the  fisliing-fleet  in 
Revolutionary'  times,  lio-iii; 
150  vessels  in,  no;  havoc  with 
industrj'  during  "Seven  Years' 
War,"  I  lo-i  1 1 ;  first  map  of  Gulf 
Stream  drawn  bj^  Nantucketer, 
no;  recovery  very  slow  after 
war,  III;  "  French  spoliations  " 
entailed  a  loss  to  Nantucket  of 
8150,000,112  ;  effects  of  war  of 
1 8 12,  112;  after  181 5  recovery 
was  rapid,  112;  in  1820  Nan- 
tucket had  a  fleet  of  seventy- 
two  whale-ships  besides  brigs, 
schooners,  and  sloops,  113;  1842 
was  the  banner  year  and  cul- 
mination of  Nantucket  whale- 
fishing,  when  she  possessed 
eighty-six  ships,  170;  from  this 
year  the  industry  declined  owing 
to  unavoidable  causes,  170;  in 
1869  the  last  whaling  ship  the 
Oak  sailed  from  Nantucket, 
never  to  return,  176 

Whipping-post  used,  100 

White,  Timothy,  schoolmaster 
and  minister,  159 

Wireless  station,  Sconset,  lighted 
b}^  electricit}-,  198 

Woods  on  island,  100 

Wrecks  and  Life-Saving  Ser- 
vice, 308-316 


ERRATA. 


Wannacomer  should  be  W^nnacomet. 
Maddequet,    Site    of     the    First    Town,    shoiihl    be 
Wannacomet,   Site   of   the   First  Town. 


Colonial  Homesteads 


And  Their  Stories 


By  Marion  Harland 

Author  of  "  Where  Ghosts  Walk,"  etc. 

A  Re-Issue,  in  One  Volume,  of  "  Some  Colonial  Home- 
steads "  and  "  More  Colonial  Homesteads  " 


8°.       With    167   Illustrations. 
By   mail,  $3.75 


$350  net 


The  author  combines  the  accuracy  of  an  his- 
torian with  the  charm  of  a  story-teller.  She 
has  studied  patiently  and  lovingly  the  traditions 
and  historical  associations  that  cluster  about 
the  old  family  estates  founded  by  notable 
Americans  of  the  Colonial  period.  How  rich 
and  varied  is  this  lore,  none  can  comprehend 
who  have  not,  like  her,  visited  the  storied 
homes  in  person  and  had  access  to  the  family 
archives  in  each.  Every  house  has  its  romance. 
The  loves,  the  feuds,  the  tempers,  the  sports^ 
and  the  tragedies  revealed  by  such  research 
are  interwoven  with  descriptions  of  the  houses 
as  we  see  them  to-day,  and  faithful  pen-pictures 
of  the  worthies  who  built  and  lived  in  them 
when  the  history  of  our  country  was  in  making. 


New  York      G.    P.    Putnam's    Sons  London 


American  glistcrric  "goxmxs 

Historic  Towns  of  New  England 

Edited  by  Lyman  P.  Powell.     With  introduction  by 
George  P.  Morris.    With  i6i  illustrations.    Large 

8°,  gilt  top net  $3  00 

Contents  :  Portland,  by  Samuel  T.  Pickard  ;  Rutland,  hj 
Edwin  D.  Mead  ;  Salem,  by  George  D.  Latimer  ;  Boston,  by 
Thomas  Wentworth  Higginson  ;  Cambridge,  by  Samuel  A.  Eliot ; 
Concord,  by  Frank  A.  Sanborn  ;  Plymouth,  by  Ellen  Watson  ; 
Cape  Cod  Towns,  by  Katharine  Lee  Bates  ;  Deerfield,  by 
George  Sheldon  ;  Newport,  by  Susan  Coolidge  ;  Providence,  by 
William  B.  Weeden  ;  Hartford,  by  Mary  K.  Talcott  ;  New 
Haven,  by  Frederick  Hull  Cogswell. 

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write  to  order,  but  con  amore.  The  beautiful  letterpress  adds  greatly  to  the 
attractiveness  of  the  book." — The  Watchman, 

"  The  authors  of  the  Boston  papers  have  succeeded  in  presenting  a  wonderfully 
interesting  account  in  which  none  of  the  more  important  events  have  been 
omitted.  .  .  .  the  quaint  Cape  Cod  towns  that  have  clung  tenaciously  tc 
their  old-fashioned  ways  are  described  with  a  characteristic  vividness  by  Miss 
Bates.  .  .  .  The  other  papers  are  presented  in  a  delightfully  attractive 
manner  that  will  serve  a  m^ke  more  deeply  cherished  the  memory  of  the  places 
described." — New  Yorh.  -^itnes. 


Historic  Towns  of  tiie  Middle  States 

Edited  by  Lyman  P.  Powell.      With  introduction  by 
Dr.  Albert  Shaw.     Wii  i  135  illustrations.     Large 

8°,  gilt  top net  $3  00 

Contents  :  Albany,  by  W.  W.  Battershall  ;  Saratoga,  by 
Ellen  H.  Walworth  ;  Schenectady,  by  Judson  S.  Landon ;  New- 
burgh,  by  Adelaide  Skeel ;  Tarrytown,  by  H.  W.  Mabie  ;  Brook- 
lyn, by  Harrington  Putnam  ;  New  York,  by  J.  B.  Gilder  ;  Buffalo, 
by  Rowland  B.  Mahany  ;  Pittsburgh,  by  S.  H.  Church  ;  Phila- 
delphia, by  Talcott  Williams  ;  Princeton,  by  W.  M.  Sloane; 
Wilmington,  by  E.  N.  Vallandigham. 

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Eapers  on  important  landmarks  of  the  Middle  States.      The  writers  enter  into  th* 
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e.  p.  PLJTNAM'5  SONS,  New  York  and  London 


gtttxjericaxi  U^istoric  "gowns 

Historic  Towns  of  the  Southern  States 

Edited  by  Lyman  P.  Powell.  With  introduction  by 
W.  P.  Trent.  With  about  175  illustrations.  Large 
8°,  gilt  top 'u't  $^  00 

Contents  :  Baltimore,  By  St.  George  L.  Sioussat  ;  Annapolrs 
and  Frederick,  by  Sara  Andrew  Shafer  ;  Washington,  by  F.  A. 
Vanderlip  ;  Richmond,  by  William  Wirt  Henry  ;  Williamsburg, 
by  Lyon  G.  Tyler  ;  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by  J.  B.  Cheshire  ; 
Charlestown,  by  Yates  Snovvden  ;  Savannah,  by  Pleasant  A. 
Stoval ;  St=  Augustine,  by  G.  R.  Fairbanks  ;  Mobile,  by  Peter 
J.  Hamilton  ;  Montgomery,  by  George  Petrie  ;  New  Orleans, 
by  Grace  King  ;  Vicksburg,  by  H,  F.  Simrall  ;  Knoxville,  by 
Joshua  W.  Caldwell  ;  Nashville,  by  Gates  P.  Thruston  ;  Louis- 
ville, by  Lucien  V.  Rule  ;  Little  Rock,  by  George  B.  Rose. 

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Historic  Towns  of  the  Western  States 

Edited  by  Lyman  P.  Powelu  With  introduction  by 
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gilt  top.     (By  mail  $3.25)  .         .         .net  %2i  00 

Contents  -.  Detroit,  by  Silas  Farmer  ;  Chicago,  by  Hon.  Lyman 
1".  Gage;  St.  Louis,  by  F.  M.  Crunden ;  Monterey,  by  Harold 
Bake;  San  Francisco,  by  Edwin  Markham;  Portland,  by  Rev. 
Thomas  L.  Cole  ;  Madison,  by  Prof.  R.  G.  Thwaites  ;  Kansas 
City,  by  Charles  S.  Gleed  ;  Cleveland,  by  President  Charles  F. 
Thwing ;  Cincinnati,  by  Hon.  M.  E.  Ailes  ;  Marietta,  by  Muriel 
C.  Dyar ;  Des  Moines,  by  Dr.  F.  I.  Herriot ;  Indianapolis,  by 
Hon.  Perry  S.  Heath  •  Denver,  by  J.  C.  Dana  ;  Omaha,  by  Dr. 
Victor  Rosewater  ;  Los  Angeles,  by  Florence  E.  Winslow  ;  Salt 
Lake  City,  by  Prof.  James  E.  Talmage  ;  Minneapolis  and  St. 
Paul,  by  Hon.  Charles  B.  Elliott;  Santa  F6,  by  Dr.  F.  W, 
Hodge  ;  Vincennes,  by  W.  H,  Smith. 


1    P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS,   New  York  and  London 


The 

St.  Lawrence  River 

Historical — Le^endar>' — Picturesque 

By  George  Waldo  Browne 

Author  of  "  Japan — the  Place  and  the  People,"  "  Paradise 
of  the  Pacific,"  etc. 

8vo.    385  pages,  with  100  Illustrations  and  a 
Map.     $3.50  net 

In  the  American  Waterways  Series 

While  the  St.  Lawrence  River  has  been  the 
scene  of  many  important  events  connected  with 
the  discovery  and  development  of  a  large  port'on 
of  North  America,  no  attempt  has  heretofore  been 
made  to  collect  and  embody  in  one  volume  a  com- 
plete and  comprehensive  narrative  of  this  great 
waterway.  This  is  not  denying  that  considerable 
has  been  written  relating  to  it,  but  the  various 
offerings  have  been  scattered  through  many  vol- 
umes, and  most  of  these  have  become  inaccessible 
to  the  general  reader. 

This  work  presents  in  a  consecutive  narrative 
the  most  important  historic  incidents  connected 
with  the  river,  combined  with  descriptions  of  some 
of  its  most  picturesque  scenery  and  delightful  ex- 
cursions into  its  legendary  lore.  In  selecting  the 
hundred  illustrations  care  has  been  taken  to  give 
as  wide  a  scope  as  possible  to  the  views  belonging 
to  the  river. 

G.    P.    Putnam's    Sons 

New  York  London 


:^  I  '-  n         --)  I. 


